Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
This second “sister story” in Genesis (cp. 12:10–20)...
- This second “sister story” in Genesis (cp. 12:10–20) occurred shortly before Sarah became pregnant with Isaac (ch 21). On both occasions, God protected Abraham and Sarah’s marriage in purity for the sake of the covenant promises. Participation in God’s plan requires separation from worldly corruption.
- This story took place in the Promised Land; it showed Israel how God intervened in people’s lives to fulfill his plan, how God continued to protect them against threats from other tribes, and how God used his chosen people to mediate his relationship with the nations.
- God’s preventing the destruction of Abraham’s marriage by adultery reminded the Israelites to keep their marriages morally and racially pure (Ezra 9:1–4; Neh 13:23–27; Mal 2:10–17); they should not allow any opportunity for temptation (Exod 20:14, 17; Lev 20:10; 21:13–15). Adultery would eventually destroy the covenant and the covenant people.
1Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, 2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
God gave Abimelech a stern warning against committing...
God gave Abimelech a stern warning against committing adultery; it was a capital offense (cp. Exod 20:14), viewed throughout the ancient Near East as a “great sin” (Gen 20:9).
3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
Abimelech was innocent (20:6); his conscience was clear....
- Abimelech was innocent (20:6); his conscience was clear. Nonetheless, he was about to commit adultery, and ignorance does not excuse guilt (Lev 4:13–14).
- will you destroy an innocent nation? Abimelech’s appeal to God echoes Abraham’s earlier words (cp. 18:23–32) and rebukes Abraham’s lack of faith on this occasion.
4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
Abraham had earned rebukes from Abimelech and from...
Abraham had earned rebukes from Abimelech and from God (cp. 12:17–19). Abimelech was angry that Abraham’s deception had made him guilty of this great sin (see study note on 20:3–7). He knew that taking a married woman into his harem was wrong.
8Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
9Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
Abraham’s duplicity was not a momentary loss of...
Abraham’s duplicity was not a momentary loss of faith. Despite the rebuke he received in Egypt, he practiced this strategy wherever he went (cp. 12:12–13). Living by faith requires perseverance.
11Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
Abimelech showed he was an honorable person by...
Abimelech showed he was an honorable person by making things right (see study note on 20:4–5). He made things right by letting Abraham live in the area. He also gave him slaves, livestock (compare 21:27), and 1,000 pieces of silver to make up for any wrong done to Sarah.
14So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him. 15And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver.† It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
The infertility suggests that some time had passed....
The infertility suggests that some time had passed. God controls births; he opens and closes wombs (25:21; 29:31; 30:2, 17, 22–23; 1 Sam 1:19–20; Pss 113:9; 127:3; Luke 1:13).
17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— 18for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.