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. By the ministry of dreams and visions of the night, in the early ages of the world, the Lord was pleased to convey many great and important discoveries, not only to the faithful, but (for the benefit of his people), to the profane also. Genesis 41:1 etc. Daniel 2:1 etc. read more
Gerara; at a greater distance from the devoted country of Sodom. (Haydock) read more
1-8 Crooked policy will not prosper: it brings ourselves and others into danger. God gives Abimelech notice of his danger of sin, and his danger of death for his sin. Every wilful sinner is a dead man, but Abimelech pleads ignorance. If our consciences witness, that, however we may have been cheated into a snare, we have not knowingly sinned against God, it will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. It is matter of comfort to those who are honest, that God knows their honesty, and will... read more
Sarah Again in Danger v. 1. And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. From the grove of Mamre at or near Hebron Abraham gradually journeyed, with all his possessions, to the extreme southern part of Canaan, very likely in search of better pasturage. The region where he tented was, roughly speaking, between Kadesh and Shur, and in his wanderings he encamped also at Gerar, in the land of the Philistines. v. 2. And... read more
EIGHTH SECTIONAbraham and Abimelech of Gerar. His and Sarah’s renewed exposure through his human, calculating prudence, as formerly in Egypt before Pharaoh. The Divine preservation. Abraham’s intercession for Abimelech Genesis 20:1-181And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south1 country [the mid-day], and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned [as a stranger even] in Gerar [lodging-place, pilgrim’s rest]. 2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister; and Abimelech... read more
Abraham Again Denies His Wife Genesis 20:1-18 It is wonderful that Abraham should fall like this. He had walked with God for so many years, and experienced so many deliverances, that we should have expected him to have reached an unassailable position. But the best of men are men at the best; and God, who knows us better than we know ourselves, remembers that we are dust. He often steps in by His providence to intercept the full consequences of our wrongdoing, provided always that our heart... read more
Once again we have to face Abraham's deflection from faith. We see him journeying south to Gerar. This was the center of a race of men who, having driven out the original possessors of the land, were becoming more and more warlike, and were afterward to be known as the Philistines. As Abraham approached, an old fear recurred and a former failure was repeated. These deflections from faith in the life of Abraham did not occur in the great fundamental things, nor in the main essentials of his... read more
Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-18 ). Genesis 20:1 ‘And Abraham journeyed from there towards the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar.’ He had been established many years by the Oaks of Mamre but now he moves on, although he would later return to the area. There Sarah died and was buried (Genesis 23:19), and he himself was buried there (Genesis 25:9). Isaac later returns there (Genesis 35:27) and Jacob was also buried there (Genesis 50:13). We do... read more
Genesis 20. Abraham Passes off Sarah as his Sister at Gerar.— The first complete narrative from E. The writer uses Elohim, but P’ s characteristics are absent. Phraseology as well as the use of Elohim instead of Yahweh forbid us to assign it to J, who has also a variant of the story ( Genesis 12:1-Proverbs :); contrast Genesis 20:13 with Genesis 12:11-1 Chronicles :. Features which point to E are the phraseology, the representation of Abraham as a prophet ( Genesis 20:7) and his home as in... read more
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Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Genesis 20:1
CONTENTS. The history of the patriarch Abram is re-assumed. In his journey (for he is still in the pilgrimage state) he is going towards the South. In Gerar, where he sojourned, Abimelech, the King of the place, beholdeth the beauty of Sarah, Abraham's wife; and she is, in consequence thereof, taken into the King's house. God, by the ministry of a dream, restrains Abimelech from his evil designs. Abimelech is informed of the relationship between Abraham and Sarah; he reproves Abraham, for not... read more