Genesis 20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20

Chapter 20 We are here returning to the story of Abraham; yet that part of it which is here recorded is not to his honour. The fairest marbles have their flaws, and, while there are spots in the sun, we must not expect any thing spotless under it. The scripture, it should be remarked, is impartial in relating the blemishes even of its most celebrated characters. We have here, I. Abraham's sin in denying his wife, and Abimelech's sin thereupon in taking her, Gen. 20:1, 2. II. God's discourse... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20:1-2

Here is, 1. Abraham's removal from Mamre, where he had lived nearly twenty years, into the country of the Philistines: He sojourned in Gerar, Gen. 20:1. We are not told upon what occasion he removed, whether terrified by the destruction of Sodom, or because the country round was for the present prejudiced by it, or, as some of the Jewish writers say, because he was grieved at Lot's incest with his daughters, and the reproach which the Canaanites cast upon him and his religion, for his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20:3-7

It appears by this that God revealed himself by dreams (which evidenced themselves to be divine and supernatural) not only to his servants the prophets, but even to those who were out of the pale of the church and covenant; but then, usually, it was with some regard to God's own people as in Pharaoh's dream, to Joseph, in Nebuchadnezzar?s, to Daniel, and here, in Abimelech?s, to Abraham and Sarah, for he reproved this king for their sake, Ps. 105:14, 15. I. God gives him notice of his danger... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20:8-13

Abimelech, being thus warned of God in a dream, takes the warning, and, as one truly afraid of sin and its consequences, he rises early to obey the directions given him. I. He has a caution for his servants, Gen. 20:8. Abraham himself could not be more careful than he was to command his household in this matter. Note, Those whom God has convinced of sin and danger ought to tell others what God has done for their souls, that they also may be awakened and brought to a like holy fear. II. He has... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 20:14-18

Here is, I. The kindness of a prince which Abimelech showed to Abraham. See how unjust Abraham's jealousies were. He fancied that if they knew that Sarah was his wife they would kill him; but, when they did know it, instead of killing him they were kind to him, frightened at least to be so by the divine rebukes they were under. 1. He gives him his royal licence to dwell where he pleased in his country, courting his stay because he gives him his royal gifts (Gen. 20:14), sheep and oxen, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 20 This chapter relates the removal of Abraham to Gerar, Genesis 20:1 ; the king of Gerar's taking to him Sarah, whom Abraham had called his sister, Genesis 20:2 ; who is rebuked of God for it in a dream, Genesis 20:3 ; for which he makes an apology that is admitted, only he is ordered to restore to Abraham his wife, Genesis 20:4 ; and accordingly early in the morning he called his servants, and acquainted them with what had happened, Genesis 20:8 ; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:1

And Abraham journeyed from thence towards the south country ,.... He returned from the plains or oaks of Mamre, where he had lived fifteen or twenty years, into the more southern parts of the land of Canaan: the reason of this remove is not certain; some think, because he could not bear the stench of the sulphurous lake, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were become; and others, because of the scandal of Lot's incest with his daughters, which prejudiced the idolatrous people in those parts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:2

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, she is my sister ,.... This he gave out in all conversation he came into, and said it to every one that asked who she was, which was little better than a lie; it at least was an equivocation and deception, and not at all justifiable, and tended to expose his wife's chastity, and discovered a distrust of divine Providence; the same infirmity be had given way to, and the same evil he had fallen into in Egypt, Genesis 12:11 , and therefore was the more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:3

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night ,.... Put a dream into his mind, by which he cautioned him against taking Sarah to be his wife; so careful was the Lord that no wrong should be done to such a godly and virtuous person, to which she was exposed through the weakness of her husband. Aben Ezra wrongly interprets this of an angel, when it was God himself: and said unto him, behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken ; that is, God would punish him with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:4

But Abimelech had not come near her ,.... Sarah had been put into an apartment in his palace, and not yet admitted into his company, not at least to his bed; he had not lain with her, which is the design of the expression: the Septuagint version is, "had not touched her", as in Genesis 20:6 ; which is another phrase expressive of the same thing: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation ? meaning either his family, the greater part of which were not accessory to this... read more

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