Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:6

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

6. 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 Gen 20:17.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

I know that thou didst not this knowingly and maliciously, but imprudently and inconsiderately, which is indeed an extenuation of thy sin, though not a total excuse. Compare 1Ki 9:4; 1Ch 29:1.

I also withheld thee, partly by my restraining grace, and partly by my powerful providence, and the plague mentioned Gen 20:17. Which plainly shows that ignorance is not always an excuse for sin. See Luk 12:48. This sin, though directly committed against Abraham and Sarah only, is said to be against God, as other such sins are, Gen 39:9; Psa 51:4, because it was against Gods command written in mens minds, though not yet published by express word or writing; and against Gods honour; and that here in a particular manner, because it would have rendered Isaacs original, and thereby Gods promise, doubtful.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And God said unto him in a dream,…. The same dream continued:

yea, or “also”

I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; not only thou knowest, but I, who know all things, know and acknowledge that this was so done by thee. Abimelech’s plea is admitted, and a very great testimony borne to his integrity in this matter; and throughout the whole account he appears to be a man of great honour and uprightness, especially in this affair, if not a good man:

for I also withheld thee from sinning against me; for had he committed adultery with her, it had been not only a sin against her, and against her husband, but against God being contrary to his will revealed in the minds of men by the law and light of nature, before the law of Moses was given: and indeed all sin against the neighbour is ultimately against God, see Ps 51:4; and now from the commission of this sin God restrained Abimelech, either by some impulse upon his mind not to take her to be his wife as yet, or by throwing some thing or other in the way of it, in his providence, or by inflicting some disease upon him, which rendered him incapable of it, Ge 20:17;

therefore suffered I thee not to touch her; that is, to have carnal knowledge of her, see 1Co 7:1; as there is nothing done but what is done by divine permission, so many more evils would be committed than there are, were it not that men are restrained from them by the power and providence of God, not suffering them to do them; and in particular this sin was prevented, that it might not in any respect be a doubtful point whether Isaac, whom Sarah had now conceived, was a legitimate son of Abraham; and these expressions of Abimelech not coming near her,

Ge 20:4; and not touching her as here, are used for that purpose.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

6. Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart. We infer from this answer of God, (as I have lately remarked,) that Abimelech did not testify falsely concerning his own integrity. Yet, while God allows that his excuse is true, He nevertheless chastises him. Let us hence learn, that even they who are pure, according to human judgment, are not entirely free from blame. For no error may be deemed so excusable, as to be without some deteriorating admixture. Wherefores it is not for any one to absolve himself by his own judgment; rather let us learn to bring all our conduct to the standard of God. For Solomon does not say in vain, that

the ways of men seem right to themselves, but the Lord pondereth the hearts,’ (Pro 21:2.)

But if even they who are unconscious to themselves of any evil, do not escape censure; what will be our condition, if we are held inwardly bound by our own conscience?

I also withheld thee. This declaration implies that God had respect, not only to Abraham, but also to the king. For because he had no intention of defiling another man’s wife, God had compassion on him. And it frequently happens, that the Spirit restrains, by his bridle, those who are gliding into error; just as, on the other hand, he drives those headlong, by infatuations and a spirit of stupor, who, with depraved affections and lusts, knowingly transgress. And as God brought to the heathen king, who had not been guilty of deliberate wickedness, a timely remedy, in order that his guilt should not be increased; so He proves himself daily to be the faithful guardian of his own people, to prevent them from rushing forward, from lighter faults to desperate crimes.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

6. In a dream Repeated again from Gen 20:3. It would seem as if the dream had been broken by the emotion of Abimelech, and after a period of wakefulness he dreamed again, and God again revealed himself . “The prophetic dream of the night is generally closely connected with the moral reflections and longings of the day. It is in full agreement with the nature of dreams that the communication should be made in several acts, not in a single one. See chaps. 37 and 41, and Matthew 2.” Lange.

Yea, I know Or, I have known. Abimelech has not been without the knowledge and care of the true God, ( , the Elohim,) who now accepts his plea, and adds:

I also withheld thee from sinning against me God had overruled the whole matter . Comp . Gen 20:3-4; Gen 20:17-18, notes .

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Gen 20:6. I also withheld thee It is not from God that there is sin, but it is from him that there is not more sin, either by his influence on men’s minds, checking their inclination to sin, or by his providence taking away the opportunity.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Gen 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Ver. 6. Yea, I know that thou didst this, &c. ] God takes his excuse, and yet chastiseth him; to teach us, saith Calvin (in loco), Non prorsus vacare culpa qui humano modo puri sunt . He can find flaws in that for which we may look for thanks. This makes Nehemiah crave pardon of his zealous reformations; and David cries out, “Enter not into judgment,” &c. Psa 143:2 Sordet in conspectu iudicis, quod fulget in conspectu operantis , saith Gregory. “Ye are they that justify yourselves before men,” saith Christ to the Pharisees; “but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God”. Luk 16:15 A thing which I see in the night may shine, and that shining proceed from nothing but rottenness. “But be not deceived,” or if ye be, yet “God is not mocked”. Gal 6:7 When he comes to turn the bottom of the bag upwards – as the steward did Benjamin’s – all our secret thefts will out, all our collusions come to light a His law is a law of fire; Deu 33:2 His tribunal, of fire; Eze 1:27 His pleading with sinners, in flames of fire. Isa 66:15-16 The trial of our work shall be by fire; 1Co 3:15 and before God, who is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29 Happy are they that are here purged by that spirit of judgment, and burning. Isa 4:4 These shall stand in judgment, yea, dwell with everlasting burnings. Isa 33:14

For I also withheld thee. ] Either by sickness, as aforesaid, or by a spirit of restraint, “a gift” that God gives “to men, yea, to the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them” Psa 68:18 in his religion and worshippers; which else the wicked would never suffer. Thus God chained up Laban, and made Saul to melt over David, &c. Now many take this poor counter (that is, I am not as some others are, so bad as the worst) and set it down for a thousand pounds. Our Saviour indeed is said to have “looked upon” the young Pharisee, and to have “loved him,” Mar 10:21 because he saw him to be a tame man, free from foul crimes, and fit to live in a commonwealth: but no otherwise than as we love pictures, which are pretty things to look on, and that is all they are good for. A better nature, if rested in, is but a beautiful abomination, a smooth way to hell. And yet, say what we can, this kind of men grow crooked and aged with good opinions of themselves, and can seldom or never be set straight again. They will trust in Moses; Joh 5:45 and when they have sick fits, and qualms of conscience, lick themselves whole by their repentance, and so rest in it: which made Austin say, that repentance damneth more than sin. They seek not to be saved by the righteousness of faith neither see they any necessity of growing from faith to faith. No, they are set, they are as good as ever they mean to be; they that outstrip them are too forward, they that fall short of them are deeply censured.

a Sacco soluto apparuit argentum . – Ambrose.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

I also withheld. Divine intervention needed. Compare Gen 20:2. Note the emphatic pronouns. See App-23.

sinning. See App-44.

touch. Here is the Hebrew word naga = touch, used in a clear understandable sense as it is used in Gen 3:3, “neither shall ye touch it”. See note on Gen 3:3.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

withheld: Gen 20:18, Gen 31:7, Gen 35:5, Exo 34:24, 1Sa 25:26, 1Sa 25:34, Psa 84:11, Pro 21:1, Hos 2:6, Hos 2:7

sinning: Gen 39:9, Lev 6:2, Psa 51:4, Psa 81:12, 2Th 2:7, 2Th 2:11

to touch: Gen 3:3, Gen 26:11, 1Co 7:1, 2Co 6:17

Reciprocal: Gen 20:4 – had Gen 28:12 – he dreamed Gen 31:10 – a dream Deu 18:14 – hath not suffered Jos 24:14 – serve Rth 2:9 – touch thee 1Sa 22:15 – Did I then Job 33:17 – withdraw Psa 19:13 – Keep Psa 51:6 – Behold Zec 2:8 – for Mat 2:12 – warned

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Gen 20:6. I withheld thee, &c. It is God that restrains men from doing the ill they would do; it is not from him that there is sin, but it is from him that there is not more sin, either by his influence on mens minds, checking their inclination to sin, or by his providence, taking away the opportunity of committing it. It is a great mercy to be hindered from sinning, which God must have the glory of, whoever is the instrument.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also {g} withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

(g) God by his holy Spirit restrains those who offend in ignorance, that they not fall into greater offence..

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes