XX. ABRAHAM’S DENIAL OF HIS WIFE AT GERAR. (1) ABRAHAM JOURNEYED FROM THENCE. — That is, from Mamre, where he had so long halted, and which seems to have continued to be one of his homes. As he had been commanded to traverse the whole land (Genesis 13:17), we need seek no reasons for his removal. I... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE IS MY SISTER. — Twenty years before, Abraham had acted in the same way in Egypt, and Pharaoh had rebuked him, but sent him away with large presents. We learn from this chapter, Genesis 20:13, that the false representation which twice brought them into trouble was habitual with the two; nor does... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD (ELOHIM) CAME... — From the use of this title of the Deity it has been said that this narrative is an Elohistic form of the Jehovistic narrative in·Genesis 12:10. But we have seen that even in the History of the Fall, where the writer in so remarkable a manner styles the Deity Jehovah-Elohim, he... [ Continue Reading ]
A RIGHTEOUS NATION. — Knobel has pointed out that there is an allusion here to the fate of Sodom. Though the malady was confined to Abimelech and his household, yet he sees destruction threatening his whole people, who, compared with the inhabitants of the Ciccar cities, were righteous. There is ind... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE INTEGRITY OF MY HEART... — Not only does Abimelech assert this, but Elohim (see Genesis 20:6) admits the plea. And yet this Philistine king indulges in polygamy, and claims the right of taking the female relatives of any one passing through his territory to add them to his harem. But the word... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS A PROPHET. — This is not said as an aggravation of Abimelech’s sin, but as an encouragement to him to restore Sarah. It is therefore rightly joined with the words “He shall pray for thee.” For the word prophet is used here in its old sense of _spokesman_ (comp. Exod. Genesis 7:1, with Genesis... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SAWEST THOU? — Some modern commentators explain the Hebrew as meaning, What purpose hadst thou? What didst thou look for? But the old rendering is probably right. Abimelech first denies by indignant questions that he had been guilty of any wrong towards Abraham, and then asks what he had seen i... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THE FEAR OF GOD... — Abraham’s general condemnation of the people had some excuse in the widespread depravity of the nations in Canaan, but was nevertheless unjust. Even as regards these nations, they were not utterly corrupt (Genesis 15:16), and both in Egypt and in Gerar the standard of mor... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THE DAUGHTER OF MY MOTHER. — This disproves the notion that Sarah was the same as Iscah (Genesis 11:29); for as Iscah was Terah’s granddaughter, the distinction between the identity of the father and the diversity of the mother would in her case be unmeaning. Sarah was apparently Abraham’s half-... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN GOD CAUSED ME TO WANDER. — According to rule, Elohim is construed with a verb singular for the true God, but with a verb plural for false gods. Here the verb is plural, and the same construction occurs in Genesis 35:7; Exodus 22:9; 2 Samuel 7:22 (but singular in 1 Chronicles 17:20); and Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIMELECH.... GAVE THEM UNTO ABRAHAM. — Pharaoh’s presents were given when he took Sarah, and though he did not exact them back, yet he bade Abraham _“go_ his way” in displeasure. More generously, the Philistine gives presents on restoring Sarah, and grants her husband permission to dwell in his lan... [ Continue Reading ]
A THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER. — Heb., _a thousand of silver._ This was the total value of Abimelech’s present, and not an additional gift. A thousand shekels would be about £125, a large sum at a time when silver was scarce and dear. HE IS TO THEE A COVERING OF THE EYES. — This speech of Abimelech is... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM PRAYED... — As Abimelech had now made very liberal compensation, it became the duty of Abraham to intercede for him. The malady seems to have been one confined to Abimelech, as its object was to protect Sarah; but in some way it so affected the whole household as to produce general barrennes... [ Continue Reading ]