And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
11. Because I thought ] Lit. “I said”: see note on Gen 18:17.
Surely the fear of God ] Abraham’s defence is that he assumed a heathen people did not fear God; and, therefore, would not be afraid of any Divine retribution, if they took the life of a stranger ( gr). The stranger had no rights; his God would not be known. He would have no “avenger of blood.” See note on Gen 4:15.
See the same idea underlying Joseph’s words, “for I fear God”(Gen 42:18).
they will slay me ] He does not explain, why he feared that he would be slain for his wife’s sake. Obviously it is for the reason mentioned in Gen 12:12. Sarah’s youth and beauty are assumed: the murder of the stranger would enable the inhabitants of Gerar to seize her. For this murder there would be no redress; and, therefore, there would be little compunction.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gen 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place
On harsh and selfish judgments
The true fear of God was at that moment in Abimelechs heart, and not in Abrahams; it was Abimelech who was playing the Christian part, that of the child of the light and of the day; Abraham was for the moment the child of fear, darkness, night.
I. CONSIDER THE ORIGIN OF THE HABIT OF HARSH JUDGMENT. TWO main sources.
1. The first a heathen Roman can illustrate for us (Act 22:27-28). The thing has cost us much; we feel it is hard to believe that it can be widely shared. Abraham had made a terrible sacrifice to assure his calling. As for those easy, jovial, prosperous heathen, surely the fear of God was not there.
2. A second source of this harshness of judgment is the predominance in all of us of the natural aristocratic principle over the Christian principle of communion. Men naturally believe in election. But, with tale exceptions, they naturally believe themselves to he the elect. It is hard indeed to believe that a private possession gains instead of loses by being shared by all mankind.
II. THE HISTORIES OF SCRIPTURE ARE A PERPETUAL WARNING AGAINST NARROW AND SELFISH JUDGMENTS OF MEN. It is as if the Spirit had resolved that the virtues of those outside the pale should be kept clearly before the eyes of men. God is no respecter of persons, and He keeps hold in ways, of which we little dream, of the most unlikely human hearts.
III. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN POLICY IN JUDGING MANKIND.
1. Let your personal fellowship be based on the clear explicit manifestation of that which is in tune with your higher life and Christs.
2. As for those who are without, believe that God is nearer to them than you wot of, and has more to do with them than you dream. (J. B. Brown, B. A.)
Morality outside the Church
I. MORALITY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH MAY ATTAIN TO GREAT EXCELLENCE.
1. Belief in a moral standard of right and wrong.
2. Belief in the moral relations of human society.
3. A sense of injured moral feeling in the presence of wrong.
4. A readiness to make restitution for faults committed against others.
II. MORALITY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH MAY HAVE LESSONS OF REPROOF FOR THOSE WHO ARE WITHIN IT.
1. For their mean subterfuges.
2. Their distrust of Providence.
3. Their religious prejudices. (T. H. Leale.)
Prejudice
1. It is often strong in those who enjoy high religious privileges. Abraham thought himself so highly favoured of God that he was unwilling to admit that any goodness could be found among those who were less favoured.
2. The evils of it are great.
(1) It limits the power of the grace of God. He is not confined to one mode of making Himself known.
(2) It is a sin against charity.
(3) It issues in committing wrong against others.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 11. And Abraham said] The best excuse he could make for his conduct, which in this instance is far from defensible.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The fear of God is not in this place, i.e. true piety, or the knowledge of the true God, which is the only effectual restraint from the grossest wickedness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. And Abraham said . . . Ithought, Surely the fear of God is not in this placeFrom thehorrible vices of Sodom he seems to have taken up the impression thatall other cities of Canaan were equally corrupt. There might havebeen few or none who feared God, but what a sad thing when men of theworld show a higher sense of honor and a greater abhorrence of crimesthan a true worshipper!
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Abraham said,…. In defence of himself, as well as he could:
because I thought; within himself, concluding from the general depravity of the Canaanites, that this was the case of the inhabitants of Gerar:
surely the fear of God [is] not in this place; this is a certain truth, which he thought might be depended upon, and taken for granted, since so it was everywhere: or “only” e, as the word used signifies; this was the only thing he had to plead, that he verily thought with himself that there was no true religion and godliness in Gerar: that the inhabitants of it were without any fear of God before their eyes, or in their hearts; and he knew, where this is the case, there is nothing to restrain from the commission of the grossest sins:
and they will slay me for my wife’s sake; that they might marry her, see Ge 12:12.
e “tantum”, Montanus; so Vatablus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and Ben Melech.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11. And Abraham said. There are two points contained in this answer. For, first, he confesses that he had been induced by fear to conceal his marriage. He then denies that he had lied for the purpose of excusing himself. Now, although Abraham declares with truth, that he had not concealed his marriage with any fraudulent intention, nor for the purpose of injuring any one; yet he was worthy of censure, because, through fear, he had submitted, so far as he was concerned, to the prostitution of his wife. Wherefore, much cannot be said in his excuse: since he ought to have been more courageous and resolute in fulfilling the duty of a husband, by vindicating, the honor of his wife whatever danger might threaten him. Besides, it was a sign of distrust, to resort to an unlawful subtlety. With regard to his suspicion; although he had everywhere perceived that a monstrous licentiousness prevailed; it was, nevertheless, unjust to form a judgment so unfavourable of a people whom he had not yet known; for he supposes them all to be homicides. But as I have treated, at some length, on these subjects, in the tenth chapter (Gen 10:1); it may now suffice to have alluded to them, by the way. Meanwhile, we come to the conclusion, that Abraham does not contend for the justice of his cause before God; but only shows his earnestness to appease Abimelech. His particular form of expression is, however, to be noticed; for wherever the fear of God does not reign, men easily rush onwards to every kind of wickedness; so that they neither spare human blood, nor restrain themselves from rapine, violence, and contumelies. And doubtless it is the fear of God alone, which unites us together in the bonds of our common humanity which keeps us within the bounds of moderation, and represses cruelty; otherwise we should devour each other like wild beasts. It will, indeed, sometimes happen, that they who are destitute of the fear of God, may cultivate the appearance of equity. For God, in order that he may preserve mankind from destruction, holds in check, with his secret rein, the lusts of the ungodly. It must, however, be always taken into the account, that the door is opened to all kinds of wickedness, when piety and the fear of God have vanished. Of this, at the present day, too clear a proof is manifest, in the horrible deluge of crime, which almost covers the whole earth. For, from what other cause than this arise such a variety of deceptions and frauds, such perfidy and cruelty, that all sense of justice is extinguished by the contempt of God? Now, whenever we have a difficult contest with the corruptions of our own age, let us reflect on the times of Abraham, which, although they were filled with impiety and other crimes yet did not divert the holy man from the course of duty.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) Surely the fear of God . . . Abrahams general condemnation of the people had some excuse in the widespread depravity of the nations in Canaan, but was nevertheless unjust. Even as regards these nations, they were not utterly corrupt (Gen. 15:16), and both in Egypt and in Gerar the standard of morality was higher than Abraham supposed. His difficulty was the result of his own imperfect faith; but the fact that this artifice was arranged between man and wife when starting on their long wanderings, proves that they rather over-rated than under-rated the risks that lay before them. The expedient was indeed a sorry one, and shows that Abrahams faith was not yet that of a martyr; but it also shows that both of them felt that Abraham might have to save his life by a means almost as bad as death. And thus, after all, it was no common-place faith, but one as firm at root as it was sorely tried and exercised.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Abraham said Abraham’s answer has four points: 1) He thought the people of Gerar to be without the fear of God . 2) That they would therefore be likely to slay him, in order to obtain his wife . 3) She was, indeed, his sister . 4) They had both entered into an agreement at the beginning of their wanderings, that, for mutual safety, they would, among strange peoples, call each other brother and sister .
Fear of God The reverence and piety due before the Holy One . Abraham had, very probably, seen things in Gerar which were contrary to his ideas of uprightness, and he was prompted to his duplicity by the same motive of fear that actuated him in Egypt . Compare Gen 12:12.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 20:11. I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place And, consequently, there can be no regard to moral laws and righteousness; of which the fear of God is the only sure foundation. Observe here, how different the reasoning of Abraham is from that of our deists and moralists, who put the fear of God out of the question; and deduce all their morality from mere human sources. Without piety there can be no true morality. This has been the sentiment of the wisest men in all ages: “If piety towards the Supreme was once taken away,” says Cicero, “there would be an end of all fidelity, a dissolution of the bonds of human society, and even of justice itself, that most excellent of all virtues.” De Nat. Deor. Lib. I.
Note; How liable to be mistaken are the best of men. Such instances as the above, in such men as Abraham, are the strongest comments on those passages of the word of God, which require us not to judge from conjecture or appearances. No human conduct is to be judged of, even by the thoughts of an Abraham or from appearance, but from real evidence; and no man is to be condemned till it be known what he has to say in his own defence: a careful regard to this scriptural rule, in common life, would prevent many bitter pangs of sorrow in the minds of men, who are so often hearing of their sentence before they even know themselves to be accused.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 20:11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
Ver. 11. Surely the fear of God, &c. ] The only best curb to restrain from evil, and spur to incite to good. All honesty flows from this holy fear. It is a problem in Aristotle, why men are credited more than other creatures. The answer is, O ; “Man only reverenceth God,” therefore you may trust in him, therefore you may commit yourself to him. He that truly feareth God is like unto Cato, of whom it is said, He never did well that he might appear to do so, but because he could do no otherwise. a You need not fear me, said Joseph to his brethren, for I fear God, and so dare do you no harm. Ought ye not to have feared God? said Nehemiah to those usurious Jews. Neh 5:9
a Sed quia aliter facere non potuit . – Villeius.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thought. Hebrew. said: i.e. said [to myself ].
slay me. Showing how his fears were worked upon by the enemy. See Gen 20:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
fear
(See Scofield “Psa 19:9”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Surely: Gen 22:12, Gen 42:18, Neh 5:15, Job 1:1, Job 28:28, Psa 14:4, Psa 36:1-4, Pro 1:7, Pro 2:5, Pro 8:13, Pro 16:6, Rom 3:18
slay: Gen 12:12, Gen 26:7
Reciprocal: Gen 20:14 – took Gen 21:10 – Cast out Gen 31:31 – Because Exo 1:17 – feared God Exo 20:20 – his fear Lev 25:17 – fear Jdg 15:18 – and fall Neh 5:9 – walk Job 6:14 – he forsaketh Pro 29:25 – fear Mal 3:5 – fear 1Pe 2:17 – Fear
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A GODLY MANS LAPSE
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place.
Gen 20:11
The true fear of God was at that moment in Abimelechs heart, and not in Abrahams; it was Abimelech who was playing the faithful part, that of the child of the light and of the day; Abraham for the moment was the child of fear, darkness, and night.
I. Consider first the origin of the habit of harsh judgment. There are two main sources from which it springs. (1) The first a heathen Roman can illustrate for us: With a great sum obtained I this freedom (Act 22:27-28). The thing has cost us much; we feel it is hard to believe that it can be widely shared. Abraham had made a terrible sacrifice to assure his calling. As for those easy, jovial, prosperous heathen, surely the fear of God was not there. (2) A second source of this harshness of judgment is the predominance in all of us of the natural aristocratic principle over the Christian principle of communion. Men naturally believe in election. But with rare exceptions, they naturally believe themselves to be the elect. It is hard indeed to believe that a private possession gains instead of loses by being shared by all mankind.
II. The histories of Scripture are a perpetual warning against narrow and selfish judgments of men. It is as if the Spirit had resolved that the virtues of those outside the pale should be kept clearly before the eyes of men. God is no respecter of persons, and He keeps hold in ways, of which we little dream, of the most unlikely human hearts.
III. The true Christian policy in judging mankind: (1) Let your personal fellowship be based on the clear explicit manifestation of that which is in tune with your higher life and Christs; (2) As for those who are without, believe that God is nearer to them than you wot of, and has more to do with them than you dream.
Illustration
The best men are but men at the best; God takes us for worse, as well as for better; He knows that we are but dust. Note that the patriarch failed in his strong pointhis faith. He feared for his life here as he had done on first coming into the land. Old sins have a curious tendency, like old stumps left in the ground, to sprout again.
There were natural religion and goodness in Abimelech, which were very attractive, and far exceeded what Abraham expected. Have a large charity! Believe and hope all things. There is more religion in the world than you suppose. It crops up in unexpected places, and men have dealings with God, who are altogether outside the pale of your religious life. God has dealings with such, but they need the help of those who are more perfectly instructed in the faith.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Gen 20:11. I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me There are many places and persons that have more of the fear of God in them than we think they have; perhaps they are not called by our name, they do not wear our badges, they do not tie themselves to that which we have an opinion of; and therefore we conclude they have not the fear of God in their hearts!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the {l} fear of God [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
(l) He shows that no honesty can be hoped for, where there is no fear of God.