Genesis 20

Genesis 20 – Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20:1-16 –   From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”

This account is of the repeated sin of passing off Sarah as his sister.  Again Sarah was taken by a king to be his wife (property).    1^st time when he left Ur at 75 and now at almost 99 he repeats the same sin.

Again God intervenes to the marriage unit.  God also intervenes to protect the world around saying that when the child was born it was because of a different father than Abraham.  Two factors to show the world that:

1 – the birth of Isaac was   a year later

2 – the king presents Sarah with gifts to be a sign of her innocence and purity so she if vindicated. (v.16)

V. 3 – God gives Abimelech a death sentence because he took for himself as she was a ‘married woman’   By this we see a glimpse into “Hittite Law” where the adulterer who can prove his ignorance of the woman’s marital status at the time of the offense is acquitted.   

V.4-5 – Abimelech contends on the basis of his ignorance that he has been judged too harshly.  Proof, he states, is that he acted with a clear conscience.  He was misled by Abraham and Sarah.

How does God & His justice look at Abimelech’s action?

V. 5 – but ignorance alone does not absolve the man in God’s eyes
V. 7 – there must be a return and a mediation by her husband

V.4 – NKJV- But Abimelech had not (H3108)  come (qarab) (H7126) near her; and he said, “Lord (Adona) H136 , will You slay a righteous nation also?

V. 4 – ESV – Now Abimelech had not(H3108)  approached (qarab)  (H7126) her. So he said, “Lord (Adona) H136, will you kill an innocent people?

H3108 – lôh (Deut. 3:11). lo; a prim. particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by impl. no; often used with other particles (as follows):—× before, + or else, ere, + except, ig [-norant], much, less, nay, neither, never, no ([-ne], -r, [-thing]), (× as though …, [can-], for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without. (Strong’s Dictionary)

H 7126.  קָרַבqârab, kaw-rab´; a prim. root; to approach (caus. bring near) for whatever purpose:—(cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.  (Strong’s Dictionary)

Two translations used different English Words from the same Hebrew word of:  “qarab” …  (H7126) (this word was used to describe ilicit sexual relations in Hebrew law  (Lev. 18:6, 14,19:20:16) 

H136–  אֲדֹנָיʾĂdônây, ad-o-noy´; an emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a prop. name of God only):—(my) Lord.  (Strongs)

Note above, he appeals to the unspecified “lord” – “adona”  –   He requests the same ‘righteous’ (saddiq) as was asked by Abraham for Sodom. 

The scripture states that Abimelech had not come near Sarah.  God helped to prevent that by giving him a disease that forced that behavior.  It was a serious one for it got his attention. 

Notice he uses the term “Lord” in addressing God as he recognized his dependent position.

(This King is not far from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and he’d know about their total destruction.  Destruction that only a god could have done as well as take notice that Abraham was involved in the scene. 

The plea was answered in the Abraham had to pray for him.  Abraham mediates divine healing which enables the king’s wives to bear children (blessings are often to mean a numerous offspring).

V. 5 …In the integrity (H8537)  of my heart (H3824) and the innocence (H5356) of my hands (H3709) I have done this.  The heart (lebab) can represent human intellect (Gen. 6:5; 8:21)  “Clean hands” – (niqyon kappay) means behavior that is free from guild (Pss 25:5; 73:13) 

Integrity:

H 8537.  תֹּםtôm, tome; from 8552; completeness; fig. prosperity; usually (mor.) innocence:—full, integrity, perfect (-ion), simplicity, upright (-ly, -ness), at a venture. (Strongs)

Heart:

H 3824.  לֵבָבlêbâb, lay-bawb´; from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also like 3820:—+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ([faint], [tender-] heart ([-ed]), midst, mind, × unawares, understanding. (Strongs)

“and the innocence (H5356) of my hands (H3709)”:

H 5356.  נִקָּיוֹןniqqâyôwn, nik-kaw-yone´; or  נִקָּיֹןniqqâyôn, nik-kaw-yone´; from 5352; clearness (lit.) or fig.):—cleanness, innocency.

H 3709.  כַּףkaph, kaf; from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); fig. power:—branch, + foot, hand ([-ful], -dle, [-led]), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.  (Strongs)

V.6 God tells him that he knows he did this out of the ‘integrity (H8537) of his heart (H3824) ” 

Yet God tells him that He has intervened: 

Genesis 20:6 –  Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart (Lebab), and it was I who kept you (eh sak) (H2820)  from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.   (Same Hebrew Words:  “Lebab” used….

H2820.  חָשַׂךְchâsak khaw-sak´; a prim root; to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by impl. to refuse, spare, preserve; also (by interch. with 2821) to observe:—assuage, × darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.

 Ehsok – Keep in check  –  describes divine interference in the evil actions of humans  –  Used also in 1 Samuel 25:39(ESV)
³⁹When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back (H2820) his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 

Genesis 20:7 –  Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Abraham would then function as an intercessory function of the chosen family for the sake of the world. 

It is the 1^st scripture that showed one to intercede with God on behalf of others.   Abraham is a prophet by virtual of his role as a mediator for Abimelech and God.  

Abimelech has to go to the person he has offended in order to save his nation.   For the fact it states ‘he lives’ would mean that he has suffered a fatal illness and without God’s healing, he would die. 

It points out that opposition to God’s prophets result in divine retribution for a nation.  – Ps. 105:8-15 –  God’s stand on nations against His people.

Genesis 20:9-13 
⁹Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 
¹⁰And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 
¹¹Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 
¹²Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 
¹³And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.’”

Abimelech calls an emergency session in the morning and asks:  “What have you done?”

The Message Bible reads: Abimelech went on to Abraham, “Whatever were you thinking of when you did this thing?” 

Everyone by then knew the ruse, but Abimelech was questioning depth of the deceitfulness and it being done without cause.   Saying something like:  “Abraham, what have I done to warrant such an elicit such a scheme?  Have I ever done anything against you? 

Abraham’s answer shows his attitude toward his neighbors:   V.11 – Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 

It would seem that this king did have some moral code he was operating on. 

Genesis 20:14-16

¹⁴Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 
¹⁵And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 
¹⁶To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all^£ who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 

V. 16  – To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”

Cover your eyes and vindicated – work together but differently in conveying the exoneration of Sarah…

Cover (kasa) (H38622)  essentially  means to conceal  –   (Job. 24:7 – conceal clothing)   – the forfeiture of silver hides the woman’s shame wrongly brought by the king’s actions – covering the shame.   To prohibit them from disparaging looks, for their eyes are deprived from seeing her shame.  Public vindication  –  becomes very important to the Abrahamic family with the birth of Isaac  – not to question who the father is of son. 

H 3682.  כְּסוּתk^ec̨ûwth, kes-ooth´; from 3680; a cover (garment); fig. a veiling:—covering, raiment, vesture.  (Strongs)

Vindicate (yakah) (H3198)    typically describes a dispute between parties in a formal legal proceeding (Job 23:7) or an informal quarrel which may result in legal action.     (Example:  Jacob-Laban in Gen. 31:36-37) 

The humbling action of this king would promote full acquittal  (yakah) and leave a profound impact on its witnesses, elevating the international stature of Abraham in the presence of both parties.

H 3198.  יָכַחyâkach, yaw-kahh´; a prim. root; to be right (i.e. correct); recip. to argue; causat. to decide, justify or convict:—appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct (-on), daysman, dispute, judge, maintain, plead, reason (together), rebuke, reprove (-r), surely, in any wise.

Cover the eyes” (kĕsût ʿênayim, “cover the offense,” NIV) and “vindicated” (nōkāḥat) work together but differently in conveying the exoneration of Sarah. “Cover” (kāsâ) essentially means to conceal (e.g., clothing, Job 24:7); here, the metaphorical sense is that the forfeiture of silver hides the woman’s shame wrongly brought by the king’s actions (on the relationship of cover and shame, see e.g., Pss 44:15[16]; 69:7[8]); Ezek 16:8; Jer 51:51).

Genesis 20:17-18(ESV)
¹⁷Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed (H7495)  Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 
¹⁸For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

H7495.  רָפָאrâphâʾ, raw-faw´; or  רָפָהrâphâh, raw-faw´; a prim. root; prop. to mend (by stitching), i.e. (fig.) to cure:—cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, × thoroughly, make whole. See 7503. (Strongs)

On the account of Abimelech mistreatment of Sarah the Philistines experienced barrenness that was reversed as a consequence of Abimelech new benevolence toward the man Abraham.    KEY:  the grace of God…