It’s ironic that a pagan king would need to remind the prophet of this.20:18 – the consequences of Abraham’s deception had impacted all those in his houseĢ0:9 – You have done deed to me that ought not to be done.The problem seems to be that Abraham doesn’t really fear God.Abraham was wrong there actually was fear of God in this place.Abimelech is eager to rectify the situation.There was nothing in their past that would indicate that.It’s a little sad that Abimelech has to be told that Abraham is a prophet.God prevented Abimelech from sinning in ignorance.6.Ģ0:6 – “I withheld you from sinning against Me therefore I did not let you touch her.” The irony of what the prophet didn’t sayĢ0:5 – Abimelech’s assertion of his “integrity” in vs.Abimelech doesn’t deny that taking another man’s wife would be wrong he denies his knowledge of it.The reason for God’s judgment – he has taken another man’s wife.Mathews, Genesis 11:27-50:26, New American Commentary, vol. 7 you will live … if you do not … you and all your will die Kenneth A. 4 will you destroy an innocent nationĪ´ vs. 7:63) and does not necessarily imply forceĢ0:3-7 – Mathews proposes a chiastic structure in verses 3-7ĭ vs. This could imply wife-stealing, but it is clear that Abimelech was not aware that Sarah was married to Abraham.It is possible that, like Pharaoh, this was a name given to kings of Gerar.26:1 – Isaac, who followed in his father’s sin, also tried to deceive a man named, Abimelech, who was also the king of Gerar.The fact that Sarah twice goes along with this says more about her than it does about Abraham.Abraham is oddly and inexplicably unconcerned about the welfare or potential physical and sexual abuse of his wife.The action is selfish, callous, and repulsive.This is the second time that Abraham has lied about Sarah (cf.This is the region to which Hagar had previously fled (cf.Note that the two men who showed an interest in the nonagenarian were both monarchs (Pharaoh and king). While Abraham’s deceit is repulsive, these two episodes of Abraham’s offering of his wife do indicate the unusual beauty of Sarah. Perhaps Abraham did not learn his lesson from his previous deceit of Pharaoh, or maybe he was satisfied with the lucrative benefits from the last time. This passage records Abraham’s deceit 2.0. 20:1-2 – Abraham lies about his wife, again, and Abimelech takes her as his wifeĢ0:3-8 – God prevented Abimelech from violating SarahĢ0:16-18 – God listened to the prayers of the wayward, but eventually obedient prophet