And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I [of it], but today.
Verse 26. I wot not who hath done this thing] The servants of Abimelech had committed these depredations on Abraham without any authority from their master, who appears to have been a very amiable man, possessing the fear of God, and ever regulating the whole of his conduct by the principles of righteousness and strict justice.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By which he wisely and truly suggests, that Abraham should not have smothered the grudge in his mind so long time, but should instantly have reproved him for it, and endeavoured a speedy redress, which hereby he intimates that he was ready to give.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing,…. He pleads ignorance; he knew nothing of it before, nor now which of his servants had done it; intimating, that if he could know who it was, he should severely reprimand him for it:
neither didst thou tell me: signifying that he was to blame he did not complain of it sooner; and at least he had no reason to blame him, since he had never informed him before of it, and therefore could not expect to be redressed:
neither yet heard [of it] but today: he had not heard of it from others, as the Targum of Jonathan rightly adds, by way of explanation, but that very day, and very probably not till the moment he had it from Abraham himself.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) I wot not.This explains the reason of Abimelechs visit. The kings herdsmen had robbed Abraham of a well, a species of property jealously defended in the East because of its great value, and Abraham in some way had made his displeasure felt. Abimelech, ever friendly towards Abraham, by whose nobleness of character he had been greatly impressed, comes to learn the cause of the coolness, and to enter into a more close and lasting alliance with the patriarch. With Oriental indirectness, he makes no complaint, and speaks only of his wish for continued friendship, but by his allusion to his past kindness hints that this had not been received as it ought. Abraham fully understands his real meaning, and tells him what had happened; whereupon the matter is set right, and Abraham requites his previous generosity with gifts of cattle.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. I wot not Or, I knew not . By this protest Abimelech really reproves Abraham, as if he had been lacking in frankness towards him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing, nor did you tell me, nor yet have I heard of it until today.”’
This may be politician’s talk or it may be true. But his approach in itself suggests that Abimelech is aware of a certain uneasy feeling between the two groups. Now he has at least a partial explanation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 21:26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I [of it], but to day.
Ver. 26. I wot not who hath done this thing. ] A fault it might be in Abraham, not to complain to the king. For many a good prince is even bought and sold by his officers and counsellors; as it was said of Aurelian the Emperor, who might know nothing but as they informed him. As of another German prince it was said, Esset alius, si esset apud alios . a
a Bucholc.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wot not = know not. O. Eng. idiom.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I wot: “Wot,” though used for the present, is the past tense of the almost obsolete word “to wit,” from the Saxon witan, to know. Gen 13:7, 2Ki 5:20-24
Reciprocal: Gen 44:15 – wot ye not Exo 32:1 – we wot Act 3:17 – wot Phi 1:22 – I wot
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
21:26 And Abimelech said, {l} I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I [of it], but to day.
(l) Wicked servants do many evils unknown to their masters.