Genesis 20:8-13

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:8

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning ,.... Awaking upon the dream, could sleep no more, his thoughts running upon what had been said to him by the Lord in it: wherefore as soon as it was light he rose from his bed: and called all his servants ; his household servants, and particularly his courtiers and counsellors, who had advised him to take Sarah for his wife, and had been assisting in it: and told all those things in their ears : how that God appeared to him in a dream,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:9

Then Abimelech called Abraham ,.... Who might be in the king's palace, being taken into it caressed by the king for the sake of Sarah: and said unto him ; not in a passion, as might have been expected, but in a mild and gentle manner, yet with great strength of reasoning, and making very just expostulations with him: what hast thou done unto us ? what evil to him, his family, and his subjects? this was very probably said in the presence of his servants he had called, and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:10

And Abimelech said unto Abraham ,.... Continuing his discourse with him: what sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing ? he desires to know what he had observed, either in him or his people, that gave him any reason to conclude that they were a lustful people, and would stick at nothing to gratify their lusts, which put him upon taking such a method to secure his life, lest they should kill him for his wife's sake. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:11

And Abraham said ,.... In defence of himself, as well as he could: because I thought ; within himself, concluding from the general depravity of the Canaanites, that this was the case of the inhabitants of Gerar: surely the fear of God is not in this place ; this is a certain truth, which he thought might be depended upon, and taken for granted, since so it was everywhere: or "only" F5 רק "tantum", Montanus; so Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius; so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:12

And yet indeed she is my sister ,.... In the same sense as Lot was his brother; for she was sister to Lot, and both were the children of Haran, the brother of Abraham: she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother ; she was the daughter of his father, being his granddaughter, grandchildren are sometimes called children, but not the daughter or granddaughter of Abraham's mother; Terah having had two wives, by the one he had Haran, the father of Sarah, and by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 20:13

And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house ,.... In Ur of the Chaldees, from whence God called him to go forth; which laid him under an obligation to depart from thence, and move from place to place, and go he knew not where, as in Hebrews 11:8 ; or "the Gods", as it is in the plural number, and so the verb in construction with it; not the idol gods, the gods of the Gentiles, as the Targum of Jonathan, who interprets the words thus,"and it was when the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:8

Abimelech rose early, etc. - God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and we find as the day broke he arose, assembled his servants, (what we would call his courtiers), and communicated to them what he had received from God. They were all struck with astonishment, and discerned the hand of God in this business. Abraham is then called, and in a most respectful and pious manner the king expostulates with him for bringing him and his people under the Divine displeasure, by withholding from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:11

And Abraham said - The best excuse he could make for his conduct, which in this instance is far from defensible. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 20:12

She is my sister - I have not told a lie; I have suppressed only a part of the truth. In this place it may be proper to ask, What is a lie? It is any action done or word spoken, whether true or false in itself, which the doer or speaker wishes the observer or hearer to take in a contrary sense to that which he knows to be true. It is, in a word, any action done or speech delivered with the intention to deceive, though both may be absolutely true and right in themselves. See note on Genesis... read more

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