Genesis 20:7-10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:9

Verse 9 9.Then Abimelech called Abraham. There are those who suppose that the king of Gerar did not make a complaint against Abraham; but rather declared his own repentance. If, however we fairly weigh his words we find confession mixed with expostulation. Although he complains that Abraham had acted unjustly, he yet does not so transfer the blame to him, as to free himself from all fault. And he may, with justice, impute part of the blame to Abraham, as he does; provided he also acknowledges... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:10

Verse 10 10.What sawest thou that thou hast done this thing ? By this question the king provides against the future. He thinks that Abraham had not practiced this dissimulation inconsiderately; and, since God was grievously offended, he fears to fall again into the same danger. He therefore testifies, by an inquiry so earnest, that he wishes to remedy the evil. Now, it is no common sign of a just and meek disposition in Abimelech, that he allows Abraham a free defense. We know how sharply, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:1-18

Abraham in Gerar, or two royal sinners. I. THE SIN OF THE HEBREW PATRIARCH 1. An old sin repeated . "Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister." Twenty years before the same miserable equivocation had been circulated in Egypt. A sin once committed is not difficult to repeat, especially if its legitimate consequences, as in the case of Abraham and Sarah, have been mercifully averted. One is apt to fancy that a like immunity will attend its repetition. 2. A ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:7

Now therefore restore the man his wife . Literally, the wife of the man, God now speaking of Abraham non tanquam de homine quolibet, sod peculiariter sibi charum (Calvin). For he is a prophet Nabi, from naba , to cause to bubble up; hence to pour forth, applied to one who speaks by a Divine afflatus ( Deuteronomy 13:2 ; 6:8 ; 1 Samuel 9:9 ; 1 Kings 22:7 ). The office of the Nabi was twofold—to announce the will of God to melt Exodus 4:15 ; Exodus 7:1 ), and also to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:8

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning ,—an evidence of the terror into which' he had been cast by the Divine communication, and of his earnest desire to carry out the Divine instructions— and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears :—confessed his fault, explained his danger, and affirmed his intention to repair his error; a proof of the humility of this God-fearing king (Lange)— and the men were sere afraid . It spoke well for the king's household that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:9

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him (in the presence of his people), What hast thou done unto us ?—identifying himself once more with his people, as he had already done in responding to God ( Genesis 20:4 )— and what have I offended thee , that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? The gravamen of Abimelech's accusation was that Abraham had led him and his to offend against God, and so to lay themselves open to the penalties of wrong-doing. Thou hast... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 20:10

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou ,—either, What hadst thou in view? (Knobel, Delitzsch, Keil, Murphy, et alii ) , or, What didst thou see? Didst thou see any of my people taking the wives of strangers and murdering their husbands? ( Rosenmüller, 'Speaker's Commentary')— that thou hast done this thing? read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 20:1-18

- Abraham in Gerar2. אבימלך .2 'ǎbı̂ymelek, Abimelekh, “father of the king.”7. נביא nābı̂y' “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things future, but also things past and present, that are not obvious to the sense or the reason; related: “flow, go forth.”13. התעוּ hı̂t‛û is plural in punctuation, agreeing grammatically with אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym. ו(w), however, may be regarded as the third radical, and the verb may thus really be singular.16. נכהת... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 20:7

Genesis 20:7. He is a prophet A person favoured with peculiar intercourse with God, who is made acquainted with his will and purposes in an extraordinary way, and is the interpreter of that will, and the revealer of those purposes to others. This seems to be the meaning of the appellation prophet, first, as we here see, given to Abraham in the Scriptures. Genesis 20:9-10 . Thou hast done deeds that ought not to be done Equivocation and dissimulation, however they may be palliated, are... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:1-18

Abraham deceives Abimelech (20:1-18)From Hebron Abraham moved into the territory of the Philistine king Abimelech. As a result of Abraham’s deceit concerning Sarah, Abimelech took Sarah as a wife and brought God’s threat of death upon him (20:1-7). Upon discovering the truth, Abimelech acted quickly and honourably. He restored Sarah’s honour in the eyes of the people, gave gifts to Abraham, and invited Abraham to settle in his land (8-16). Humbled by these events, Abraham turned again in faith... read more

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