Bible Commentary

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:11”

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? 10. What sawest thou ] i.e. “what hadst thou in view?” An unusual use of the verb “to see.” Cf. Psa 66:18, “if I regard (lit. ‘see’) iniquity in my heart.” Some scholars prefer, by a slight alteration of the text, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:10”

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 9. What hast thou done unto us ] Syriac Peshitto … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:9”

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Verse 8. Abimelech rose early, c.] God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and we find as the day broke he arose, assembled his servants, (what we … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:8”

Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine. 7. for he is a prophet ] Abraham is here given the title of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:7”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:6”

Said he not unto me, She [is] my sister? and she, even she herself said, He [is] my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. 5. integrity ] Heb. “perfectness.” Cf. Gen 6:9. innocency of my hands ] Cf. Psa 26:6. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:5”

But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 4. a righteous nation ] Abimelech appeals to the instinct of justice, that God will not punish the innocent, as if they were guilty. Cf. Gen 18:23. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Abimelech had … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:4”

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she [is] a man’s wife. 3. God came in a dream ] Scholars have noticed that E frequently describes Divine interposition by means of a dream. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:3”

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She [is] my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 2. She is my sister ] See notes on Gen 12:13. It seems almost incredible that, after the event recorded in Gen 12:13-20, Abraham should once again have displayed the same faults of cowardice and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 20:2”