Introduction. H1 Expedient, vv 1,2-.
H2 Consequences, v.-2.
a u 3-6. Dream, &c.
v 7-. Restoration commanded.
w -7. Prayer.
u 8-13. Dream &c.
v 14-16. Restoration effected.
w 17, 18. Prayer.
1897 B.C.Genesis 20)
1 And Abraham journey from there toward the Negeb (= the south) country, and dwelled between Kadesh (= holy) and Shur (= a wall), and sojourned in Gerar (= a lodging place).
2 And Abraham said to Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." (= half-sister. Abraham's expedient = the next assault on Abraham in the Great Conflict for the destruction of the promised Seed of the woman [Gen. 3:15]. God had to intervene, for man could know nothing of it. Abraham's fear shown in v. 11.):
and Abimelech (= father-king. The official tittle of the king of Gerar, like Pharaoh in Egypt) king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. (see 21:7. In Sarah's conception God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac.)
3 But God (Elohim) came to Abimelech in a dream (20 recorded in Scripture) by night, and said to him, "Behold, you are but a dead man if you do not restore her, for the woman which you have taken; for she is a man's wife."
4 But Abimlech had not come near her: and he said, "the Lord (Yahaveh), will You slay (as Sodom and Gomorrah) also a righteous nation?" (Abimelech evidently expected God to slay the whole nation)
5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister?' and she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother': in the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands, have I done this?"
6 And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; for I also withheld you from sinning against Me (Divine intervention needed. Note the emphatic pronouns): therefore I suffered you not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife;
for he is a prophet ( First occ., showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning, God's spokesman. Here it is prayer, and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing [1 Cor.11:5].), and he shall pray for you, and you shall live, and if you restore her not, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours."
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? (an expression of feeling by way of indignation) and what have I offended you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? you have done deeds to me that ought not be done."
10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What have you seen, that you have done this?"
11 And Abraham said, "Because I said to myself, surely the fear (= reverence) of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. (showing how his fears were worked upon by the Enemy)
12 And yet indeed she is my sister (the daughter of Terah by another wife [than Abraham's mother: therefore Abraham's half-sister); she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when God caused (the verb is in the plural) me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is the kindness which you shall show to me; at every place we shall come, say of me, 'He is my brother' ' "
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored to him Sarah his wife.
15 And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you: dwell where it pleases you."
16 And to Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother (Irony) 1,000 pieces of silver, behold he is to you a covering of the eyes (Fig. of speech, when a wish is expressed to pass by a subject, which is, notwithstanding, briefly alluded to subsequently. Having called Abraham her "brother", she uses this beautiful Fig. of Speech for her husband), to all that are with you, and with all the other", thus she was reproved. (by Irony)
17 So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.