Génesis 20:16

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 husband.

a thousand pieces of silver Lit. "1000 silver." The word shekel, meaning "a weight," is omitted. Money in the patriarchal times was reckoned by weight: there were no stamped coins. The standard weight was supplied, as a rule, by metal, generally silver. Hence the word "silver" is in Hebrew often used for "money"; and the word shekel, or weight, is equivalent to "a piece of money.

" See note on Génesis 23:16. 1000 shekels of silver would be worth about £137. 10 s., reckoning a shekel = 2 Samuel 9 d. But the purchasing value of silver varies. A slave in Éxodo 21:32 is worth 30 shekels.

it is for thee a covering of the eyes R.V. marg. he(A.V.) is unsuitable and improbable. "A covering of the eyes" is a metaphor for a gift, which will have the effect of appeasing indignation and of causing the offended person to forget, or be blind to, the offence. Cf. Génesis 32:20, "I will appease him," lit.

"cover his face"; 1 Samuel 12:3, "of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind mine eyes therewith"; Job 9:24, "he covereth the faces of the judges." There is no need to suppose that there is any reference to a woman's veil (Génesis 24:65), as if the money paid was to be in lieu of lost modesty, symbolized by the veil.

to all that are with thee i.e. those of her family will recognize that full amends have been made. LXX καὶ πάσαις ταῖς μετὰ σοῦ introducing a special reference to Sarah's personal attendants.

in respect of all R.V. marg. before allmen. The text in the original is very doubtful. The meaning is fairly clear. Sarah is righted, and her honour saved; but whether the translation should be "and in respect of all that has happened," or "and in regard to all men, thou art put right," remains uncertain.

LXX καὶ πάντα ἀλήθευσον = "and in all things observe truth," furnishes a good moral, but a fantastic rendering. Lat. quocunque perrexeris: mementoque te deprehensamis no translation of our text.