And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What [is] this [that] thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she [was] thy wife?
18. Pharaoh called Abram ] How Pharaoh discovered the truth is not recorded in our condensed version. All other explanations of the epidemic failing, possibly the wise men and magicians connected it with the presence of a foreigner in the palace serving Jehovah, and with the indignation of the offended local deities.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
How great an injury hast thou done to me in concealing this from me, that she was thy wife!
Ques. How knew Pharaoh this?
Answ.
1. He guessed it from the quality of his plague, which also awakened his conscience.
2. Upon a serious inquiry into the cause of this plague, he understood it either by Divine instinct, as Gen 20:3, or by Sarai’s confession, whom doubtless he severely examined about it. And she, being awakened by this warning, durst no longer conceal herself, and thought she might securely make herself known.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18-20. Here is a mosthumiliating rebuke, and Abram deserved it. Had not God interfered, hemight have been tempted to stay in Egypt and forget the promise(Psa 105:13; Psa 105:15).Often still does God rebuke His people and remind them throughenemies that this world is not their rest.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said,…. Understanding how it was, that Sarai was his wife, which he came at the knowledge of, either by consulting his priests and diviners, as some say, on account of the plagues inflicted; or rather suspecting they were on the account of Sarai, from the nature of them, sent for her, and questioned her about this affair, who confessed the whole matter to him; unless it can be thought that he was warned of God in a dream, as Abimelech was on a like occasion; however he sent for Abram on what intelligence he had, and justly, though gently, reproved him:
what is this that thou hast done unto me? to impose upon me, and deceive me after this manner, by giving out that Sarai was thy sister, when she is thy wife; by which means I have been led to prepare to take her for my wife, and have brought plagues upon myself and family? and thus he resented it as an injury done him, as he well might:
why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? when he first took her into his house, and no doubt Abram was present then, and very often afterwards was in company with Pharaoh, and conversed with him, having respect for him for the sake of Sarai, he took to be his sister, and yet would never tell him she was his wife.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
18. And Pharaoh called Abram. Pharaoh justly expostulates with Abram, who was chiefly in fault. No answer on the part of Abram is here recorded; and perhaps he assented to the just and true reprehension. It is, however, possible that the exculpation was omitted by Moses; whose design was to give an example of the Divine providence in preserving Abram, and vindicating his marriage relation. But, although Abram knew that he was suffering the due punishment of his folly, or of his unreasonable caution; He, nevertheless, relapsed, as we shall see in its proper place, a second time into the same fault.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
18. What is this The heathen despot reproves the sin of the God-fearing Abram! What a humiliation!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say ‘she is my sister’. Now therefore here is your wife. Take her and leave.” And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him, and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.’
The words aptly bring out the superior status of Pharaoh. There is no discussion. Indeed the message would probably be conveyed through servants, although it is possible that, in the circumstances, he might have been brought into the presence of Pharaoh with all the preparations that that would entail (compare Gen 41:14 which simplified a more complex requirement).
It is clear that whatever the illness was it was sufficient to awe Pharaoh enough to prevent him taking revenge on Abram. Rather than punish him he wants this man with his powerful God to be well out of his way. Pharaoh the god is afraid of Yahweh. There is the specific idea here that Abram was at fault. The writer does not attempt to hide the fact. But he also wants the reader to know that Pharaoh is afraid.
So Abram is escorted to the frontier and firmly ejected from Egypt. But he is allowed to take his gifts with him. In the writer’s eyes the superiority of Yahweh is recognised by Pharaoh so that he acts accordingly.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
I think it probable, that those plagues were diseases of a particular nature. 1Sa 5:6-9 . And it should seem that they were so considered. God’s rod has a voice, and speaks as well as corrects. Mic 6:9 .
Reader! it is a melancholy reflection, when the people of God give occasion for the carnal to reprove them.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 12:18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What [is] this [that] thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she [was] thy wife?
Ver. 18. What is this that thou hast done unto me? ] God had reproved Pharaoh, according to that; “He suffered no man to do them wrong, but reproved kings for their sakes”; Psa 105:14 and now Pharaoh reproves Abram. It is a sad thing that saints should do that for which they should justly fall under the reproof of the wicked: we should rather dazzle their eyes, and draw from their consciences, at least, a testimony of our innocency, as David did from Saul’s, when he said, “Thou art more righteous than I, my son David”. 1Sa 24:17 “Whose ox have I taken?” saith Samuel. 1Sa 12:3 “And which of you can condemn me of sin?” saith Christ. Joh 8:46 Now, the life of a Christian should be a commentary upon Christ’s life. 1Pe 2:21 “Ye are a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should preach forth [ ] his virtues,” 1Pe 2:9 and not hang his picture – his image and graces – in a dark hole, but in a conspicuous place. Bucer so lived that neither could his friends sufficiently praise him, nor his foes justly blame him for any miscarriage. And Bradford was had in so great reverence and admiration for his holiness, that a multitude which never knew him but by fame greatly lamented his death; yea, and a number also of Papists themselves wished heartily his life. a But to have Egyptians jeer us, and that for sin, is threatened as a grievous misery. Hos 7:16
a Act. and Mon.
What? Why? Figure of speech Erotesis.
Gen 3:13, Gen 4:10, Gen 20:9, Gen 20:10, Gen 26:9-11, Gen 31:26, Gen 44:15, Exo 32:21, Jos 7:19, 1Sa 14:43, Pro 21:1
Reciprocal: Gen 26:10 – General Pro 6:29 – he that Mat 19:9 – doth Rom 4:2 – but
Gen 12:18. What is this that thou hast done What an ill thing: how unbecoming a wise and good man! Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Intimating, that if he had known that he would not have taken her. It is a fault, too common among good people, to entertain suspicions of others beyond what there is cause for. We have often found more of virtue, honour, and conscience in some people, than we thought there was; and it ought to be a pleasure to us to be thus disappointed, as Abram was here, who found Pharaoh to be a better man than he expected.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments