Genesis 20

Genesis 20:1

south = the Negeb. See Genesis 12:9; Genesis 13:1.

Genesis 20:2

said. Abraham’s expedient = the next assault on Abraham in the Great Conflict for the destruction of the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). See App-23. God had to intervene (Genesis 20:3), for man could know nothing of it. Abraham’s fear shown in Genesis 20:11.

my sister = half-sister. See note on Genesis 20:12 and App-29.

Abimelech. Hebrew. Father-king. The official title of the kings of Gerar (Compare Genesis 26:1), like Pharaoh in Egypt.

took. See note on Genesis 21:7. In Sarah’s conception God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac (Genesis 21:7).

Genesis 20:3

dream. 20 recorded in Scripture (see App-10). Genesis 20:3; Genesis 28:12; Genesis 31:10, Genesis 31:24; Genesis 37:5, Genesis 37:9; Genesis 40:5, Genesis 40:6; Genesis 41:1, Genesis 41:5, Genesis 41:5. Judges 7:13. 1 Kings 3:5. Daniel 2:3; Daniel 4:5; Daniel 7:1. Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:19; Matthew 27:19.

man . . . for. Figure of speech Aposiopesis, or “sudden silence”. We must supply “If thou dost not restore her”; or “I will slay thee”. See verses: Genesis 20:4 and Genesis 20:7.

Genesis 20:4

LORD* = Jehovah. One of the 134 emendations of the Sopherim. See App-32.

also, i.e. as well as Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19.

nation. Abimelech evidently expected God to slay the whole nation.

Genesis 20:6

I also withheld. Divine intervention needed. Compare Genesis 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 Genesis 3:3, “neither shall ye touch it”. See note on Genesis 3:3.

Genesis 20:7

prophet. First occ, showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning = God’s spokesman. Here, it is prayer (compare Exodus 4:16 with Exodus 7:1), and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing (1 Corinthians 11:5).

Genesis 20:9

What. Figure of speech Aganactesis.

sin. Hebrew. chat’a. See App-44.

Genesis 20:10

sawest thou = hadst thou seen.

Genesis 20:11

thought. Hebrew. said: i.e. said [to myself ].

slay me. Showing how his fears were worked upon by the enemy. See Genesis 20:2.

Genesis 20:12

sister. The daughter of Terah by another wife (than Abraham’s mother): therefore, Abraham’s half-sister. See App-29.

Genesis 20:13

caused. The verb is in the plural. kindness. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). Kindness put for the kind deeds caused by it.

Genesis 20:14

and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.

Genesis 20:16

brother. Figure of speech Irony.

covering, &c. Figure of speech Periphrasis. App-6. Having called Abraham her “brother”, he uses this beautiful Figure for her husband. Compare Genesis 24:65. 1 Corinthians 11:5, &c.

reproved, i.e. by the Irony.