Genesis20
King James Version · Public Domain
1And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3But 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.
4But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
12And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Abraham's sojourn at Gerar, Sarah is taken by Abimelech. (1–8). Abimelech's rebuke to Abraham. (9–13). Abimelech restores Sarah. (14–18).
vv1-8
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 acknowledge it. It is a great mercy to be hindered from committing sin; of this God must have the glory. But if we have ignorantly done wrong, that will not excuse us, if we knowingly persist in it. He that does wrong, whoever he is, prince or peasant, shall certainly receive for the wrong which he has done, unless he repent, and, if possible, make restitution.
vv9-13
See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his undue care about life, his intent to deceive. He also threw temptation in the way of others, caused affliction to them, exposed himself and Sarah to just rebukes, and yet attempted an excuse. These things are written for our warning, not for us to imitate. Even Abraham hath not whereof to glory. He cannot be justified by his works, but must be indebted for justification, to that righteousness which is upon all and unto all them that believe. We must not condemn all as hypocrites who fall into sin, if they do not continue in it. But let the unhumbled and impenitent take heed that they do not sin on, thinking that grace may abound. Abimelech, being warned of God, takes the warning; and being truly afraid of sin and its consequences, he rose early to pursue the directions given him.
vv14-18
We often trouble ourselves, and even are led into temptation and sin, by groundless suspicions; and find the fear of God where we expected it not. Agreements to deceive generally end in shame and sorrow; and restraints from sin, though by suffering, should be thankfully acknowledged. Though the Lord rebuke, yet he will pardon and deliver his people, and he will give them favour in the sight of those with whom they sojourn; and overrule their infirmities, when they are humbled for them, so that they shall prove useful to themselves and others.
Key Words
אַבְרָהָם: Abraham, the later name of Abram
נָסַע: properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
נֶגֶב: the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine)
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
קָדֵשׁ: Kadesh, a place in the Desert
שׁוּר: Shur, a region of the Desert
גּוּר: properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather forhostility (as afraid)
גְּרָר: Gerar, a Philistine city
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
Cross References
Genesis 20The exact precedent where Abraham used the same 'sister' deception with Pharaoh.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct historical commentary on God reproving kings and suffering no man to do them wrong.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Directly references the patriarchs as prophets and God's warning: 'touch not mine anointed'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic parallel where God commands intercessory prayer from His servant to avert judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Joseph echoes the principle that sexual immorality is fundamentally 'sinning against God'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Isaac repeats his father's exact deception in Gerar due to the same fear.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel judgment where God plagued Pharaoh's house because of Sarah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Abimelech's plea mirrors Abraham's intercession for Sodom concerning a 'righteous' nation.
Supported by John Calvin
Provides the familial context to evaluate Abraham's half-sister defense.
Supported by JFB
Biblical standard of walking in 'integrity of heart,' which God acknowledges in Abimelech.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses asks Aaron the same question about bringing a 'great sin' upon the people.
Supported by John Calvin
Proverbs warns of the 'fear of man' that ensnared Abraham in this passage.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Links Abraham's southern journey to Isaac's later sojourn in the same region of Gerar.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Pharaoh similarly gave Abraham wealth on account of Sarah, illustrating repeated patterns.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Illuminates Sarah's 'covering of the eyes' through ancient Eastern custom.
Supported by John Calvin