Genesis 20
DortAbraham removes to Gerar and saith Sarah to his sister verse 1 which causeth Abimelech to fetch her away for to marry her 2 but God hinders him by plagues and warning in a dream 3 whereupon he restores her back to Abraham not without civility and presents 9 Abimelech and his are cured again through the intercession o f Abraham verse 17.
1. And Abraham journeyed from thence [viz. from the oak bushes or gross of the Mamre by Hebron see chapter 13.18 an d14.13 and 18.1] towards the south country [Hebron and Mamre lay indeed themselves in the south end of Palestine but Abraham removed more southerly for reason not mentioned in the scripture] and dwelt between kades [see above chapter 14.7] and between Sur [see above chapter 16.7] and he sojourned as a stranger at Gerar [a city situated in the south-borders of Canaan not far from Bersaba and Zicklag see above chapter 10.19 and below chapter 26.1 and 2 Chronicles 14 verse 13.]
2. Now when Abraham had said of Sarah his wife she is my sister [out of like fear as had seized on him before his travel in Egypt see above chapter 11 .29 and12.13 and in this chapter verse 12] then Abimelech [this name is held to have been common to the kings of that country even as the name of Pharaoh in Egypt see above chapter 12.15 compare below chapter 12.15 compare above below chapter 26.1 and Psalms 24:2] the king of Gerar sent and took Sarah away.
3. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night [God revealed himself in former times by dreams not only to his own but also to such as were none of his people and that in the behalf and for the good of his see below chapter 28.12 and 31.24 and 40.8 and 41.1 Daniel 2:1 and4.2] and he said to him behold thou art dead [others thou art goest to die that is thou shalt die presently thou art a dead man if thou do not immediately restore his woman untouched compare below verse 7 and see like phrase below chapter 30 verse 1 and 48.21 an d50.24] because of the woman which thou hast taken for she is married to an husband.
4. Yet Abimelech had not approached to her [that is he had not lain with her this phrase is synonymous or equal with knowing or acknowledging of a woman above chapter 4.1 going into a woman above chapter 6. 4 or to touch a woman Proverbs 6:29 an d1Corinthian s7.1 and below verse 6 understand that he was hindered by God through sickness see below verse 6,17] therefore he said Lord wilt thou then also put to death a righteous [that is innocent and guiltless in this matter compare 2 Samuel 4:11] people? [That s not only those of my own family as verse 17 but others also of my subject as verse 9.]
5. Did not he tell me she is my sister? and she also said he is my brother in uprightness of my heart and in purity of my hands [Heb. Palms or the hollow of my hands see Job 17:9] have I done this [that is the matter that my heart is clear from any adultery purpose and my body from any unchaste action thus the inward and outward innocence and unfainedness ether in general of the whole course of godly or in particular of or in any thing or action is expressed elsewhere also as 1 Kings 9:4 1 Chronicles 9:17 Psalms 24:4 and73.13 and 78.72 and 101.2.]
6. And God said to him in the dream I knew it likewise that thou didst this in uprightness of thy heart [hereby God doth not mean to pronounce him guiltless altogether in the taking away of Sarah away but only in regard of the purpose and act of adultery a very single unfeigned purpose in a bad action but proceeding out of unadvisedness or ignorance is expressed in such terms as these see 2 Samuel 15:11 and 1 Kings 2:34 and 2 Chronicles 18:33] and I likewise did hinder thee to sin against thee to sin against me [to trespass against Sarah and Abraham God reckoned as done to himself compare Psalms 51:6 and 105.14,15 Acts 9:5] therefore I did not permit thee [Heb. Give thee] to touch her [see above verse 4 the annotations]
7. Therefore now restore this man's wife, for he is a prophet [that is, a man of God for singular knowledge and piety, to whom I do very freely reveal myself and whom I love and tender very much] and he shall pray for thee [or let him pray for thee] that thou mayst live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die assuredly, thou and all what is thine. [or, all that are thine.]
8. Then Abimelech rose up early in the morning and called all his servants [understand his counselors principal officer and courtiers so 1 Kings 1:2 an d10.5 2Kings 6.8 2 Chronicles 24:25] and spake all those words [or things matter what happened to him in the dream so likewise below verse 10 and chapter 24.66 &c.] before their ears [that is that they heard them in their hearing] and those men were greatly afraid [as having themselves much furthered the taking away of Sarah for their kings service compare above chapter 12.15.]
9. And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him what hast thou done to us? And what have I sinned against thee that thou hast brought a great sin over me and over my kingdom? [that is thou wouldst by thy inconsiderateness have brought over us all or involved us in all great sin of adultery and the punishments thereof it is remarkable that the heathen king even in those days before the law did hold adultery to be such an abominable sin as might justly have brought a plague or great judgment upon the whole kingdom for this sake see below chapter 38.24 Leviticus 20:10 Deuteronomy 22:22 2 Samuel 12:5,10,11 Jeremiah 29:22,23 Ezekiel 16:8,40 an d3.45,47 John 8:5] thou hast done deeds with me which ought not to be done [that is such as are both unwarranted an dill becoming thee see the like phrase below chapter 34.7 Leviticus 4:2 ,13.]
10. Moreover Abimelech said to Abraham what hast thou seen [or what hast thou looked into or observed moved thee thus deal with me?] that thou didst this thing?
11. And Abraham sad for I thought [Heb. Said I that is I thought according as the word is oftentimes taken Exodus s2.14 Joshua .14 1 Kings 5:5 2 Chronicles 2:1 Isaiah 8:12 Acts 7 .28] only the fear of God is not in this place [as it he would have said here is goodly country indeed and plenty of all things but only there wants the fear of God among these people others sure there is no fear] so that they will put me to death for my wife sake [Heb. For the matter of my wife.]
12. And verily also is she my sister she is my fathers daughter but not my mothers daughter [see above chapter 11 on verse 29] and she became a wife to me.
13. And it was so when God made [although the name of God ELOHIM being the plural number is commonly joined with a verb of the singular signifying the unity of divine essence nevertheless here it is constructed with a plural verb too for as some learned to conceived to signify the trinity o the persons Heb. When my ELOHIM they did or made &c. see the like phrase below chapter 35.7 Joshua 24:19 2 Samuel 7:23 Psalms 58.12 Jeremiah 10:10] and wander out of my fathers house then I spake to her this by thy kindness which thou shalt do by me in every place where we shall come say of me he is my brother [hereby Abraham seems to imply that departing from his fathers house he doubted much whether he should find any fear of God among any people where he was to come so that those of Gerar should have no reason to take exception as if he held this of themselves only in particular.]
14. Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, also men-servants and maid-servants, and gave them to Abraham [this together with the following and former passages argue a great deal of civility in a heathen king, God so disposing and ordering the same] and he restored him Sarah his wife.
15. And Abimelech said behold my country is before thy face [that is open for thee to dispose of thy abode therein at pleasure Pharaoh did otherwise above chapter 12.19,0 see above chapter 13 on verse 9] dwell where it is good in thy eyes.
16. And to Sarah he said: Behold I have given thy brother [hereby he reminds Sarah covertly that she had given occasion herself himself to his mishap, by saying that Abraham was her brother] a thousand silverlings, [or, pieces of silver] [Heb. a thousand silves, that is, according to the common opinion, a thousand silver shekels, or silverlings; and the shekel being two-fold: The Civil, in value somewhat more that the forth part of a Rix-dollar (which is about thirteen pence half penny) and that of the Sanctuary, of the double weight; it is conceived that here the common or civil shekel is to be understood. These thousand silverlings amounting by that account to somewhat more than two hundred and fifty Rix-dollars or fifty six pounds sterlings and five shillings] behold let him be a cover of the eyes, to all that are with thee [that is, acknowledge freely hereafter that he is thy husband and cover thy face in a token that thou art a married woman and that consequently he is the shield and defense of the chastity. See of this covering of the face, in women, below chapter 24 verse 65 and 1 Corinthians 11 verse 10. Otherwise, let it be for a cover to thee &c., that is, the money be given to thee to buy thee such a cover] yea with all [that is, not only with and among these that converse with thee, but also with and among the strangers .] and be taught. [that is let it be a lesson and warning to thee, to be more circumspect hereafter; or else: and all this, that thou may taught. Some take these to be Moses his words, reading: thus she was reproved.]
17. And Abraham prayed to God [see above verse 6] and God healed Abimelech [so that he did not die of his sickness as God had threatened him, verse 3 and 7] and his wife, and his maid-servant, so that they bare [that is, were able to bear and bring forth children.] [See the next verse.]
18. For the Lord had wholly shut up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech [Heb. Had shutting over the very womb of that is he had made them barren see this phrase 1Samuel 5, 6 on the contrary the opening of the womb doth imply the gift of fruitfulness below chapter 29.31] because of Sarah Abraham wife [Heb. For the sake of Sarah.]