Abraham and Sarah at the Court of Abimelech at Gerar (E) The incident recorded in this chap. resembles in its general features that recorded of Abraham in Egypt, Génesis 12:10-20, and that recorded of Isaac at Gerar, Génesis 26:6-11. In each case the patriarch, fearing for his own life, represents... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_from thence_ This passage is evidently derived from some distinct source. As it ignores the previous section dealing with Lot, and the last reference to Abraham is in Génesis 18:33, when he is at Mamre, the precise meaning of "from thence" must remain obscure. _the South_ See note on Génesis 12:9.... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_She is my sister_ See notes on Génesis 12:13. It seems almost incredible that, after the event recorded in Génesis 12:13-20, Abraham should once again have displayed the same faults of cowardice and dissimulation. Sarah also is advanced in years; and, in Génesis 18:10-14, had received the promise... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_God came … in a dream_ Scholars have noticed that E frequently describes Divine interposition by means of a dream. Cf. Génesis 20:6; Génesis 31:11; Génesis 31:24; Génesis 37:5; Génesis 37:9; Génesis 40:5 ff. , Génesis 41:1 ff., Génesis 46:2. _art but a dead man_ i.e. "shalt die." This sen [ Seguir leyendo ]
_a righteous nation_ Abimelech appeals to the instinct of justice, that God will not punish the innocent, as if they were guilty. Cf. Génesis 18:23.... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_integrity_ Heb. "perfectness." Cf. Génesis 6:9. _innocency of my hands_ Cf. Salmo 26:6.... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_from sinning against me_ The violation of moral law is sin against God. _suffered I thee not_ The explanation of this sentence is supplied in Génesis 20:17.... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_for he is a prophet_ Abraham is here given the title of "prophet," or "_nâbî_" (the first occurrence of it in Scripture). The prophet the one who utters or pours forth is one who is in intimate relations with God, moved by His Spirit, protected by His Power. From 1 Samuel 9:9 we learn the _nabi_was... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_What hast thou done unto us_ Syriac Peshitto "what have I done unto thee," which suits the second clause rather better. _deeds … that ought not to be done_ Cf. Génesis 34:7; 2 Samuel 13:12. The moral standard of the heathen king here stands higher than that of Abraham the prophet. There were at Ge... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_What sawest thou_ i.e. "what hadst thou in view?" An unusual use of the verb "to see." Cf. Salmo 66:18, "if I regard (lit. -see") iniquity in my heart." Some scholars prefer, by a slight alteration of the text, the reading, "what didst thou fear?" _yarêtha_for _ra"îtha_(Bacher).... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_Because I thought_ Lit. "I said": see note on Génesis 18:17. _Surely the fear of God_ Abraham's defence is that he assumed a heathen people did not fear God; and, therefore, would not be afraid of any Divine retribution, if they took the life of a stranger (_gêr_). The stranger had no rights; his... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_she is indeed my sister_ See Génesis 11:29; Génesis 12:19. The marriage with a half-sister was evidently permitted in David's time (cf. 2 Samuel 13:13); and it was practised in the days of Ezekiel (Ezequiel 22:11), though forbidden by the laws of Levítico 18:9; Levítico 18:9; Levítico 18:11;... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_God caused me to wander_ Referring to Génesis 12:1. The Hebrew student will notice that the verb "caused me to wander" is in the plural, although, as a rule in the O.T., the word "God" (_Elohim_) is treated as sing. But it is sometimes the case that the plural is used, as here and in Génesis 31:53;... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_And Abimelech took_ Abimelech's gift is intended to compensate Abraham for injury to his honour. The head of the household is regarded as embodying the rights of all who belong to him. The LXX and Heb. Sam. insert "a thousand pieces of silver and" before "sheep and oxen." This is due to a misunders... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_my land is before thee_ Cf. Génesis 13:9; Génesis 34:10.... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_I have given thy brother_ Abimelech emphasizes the word which Sarah had used (Génesis 20:5), and which freed his conscience from any blame. By the sarcastic use of the word "brother," Abimelech implies that compensation for wrong done to her is due to Abraham as one of her family, not as her husban... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_Abraham prayed_ See note on Génesis 20:7. This verse explains Génesis 20:4. Barrenness was regarded as the sign of Divine displeasure, which might be averted by prayer and intercession: cf. Génesis 25:21; Génesis 30:2; Génesis 30:22; 1 Samuel 1:10. See note on Génesis 12:17.... [ Seguir leyendo ]
_For the Lord_ An editorial addition, explanatory of Génesis 20:17. "Jehovah" is here used for the only time in this narrative.... [ Seguir leyendo ]