Gen 20:1-2 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XX Abraham leaves Mamre, and, after having sojourned at Kadesh and Shur, settles in Gerar , 1. Abimelech takes Sarah, Abraham having acknowledged her only as his sister , 2. Abimelech is warned by God in a dream to restore Sarah , 3. He asserts his innocence , 4, 5. He is farther warned , 6, 7. Expostulates with Abraham , 8-10. Abraham vindicates his conduct , 11-13. Abimelech restores Sarah, makes Abraham a present of sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves , 14; offers him a residence in any part of the land , 15; and reproves Sarah , 16. At the intercession of Abraham, the curse of barrenness is removed from Abimelech and his household , 17, 18. NOTES ON CHAP. XX Verse 1. And Abraham journeyed ] It is very likely that this holy man was so deeply affected with the melancholy prospect of the ruined cities, and not knowing what was become of his nephew Lot and his family, that he could no longer bear to dwell within sight of the place. Having, therefore, struck his tents, and sojourned for a short time at Kadesh and Shur , he fixed his habitation in Gerar, which was a city of Arabia Petraea, under a king of the Philistines called Abimelech, my father king , who appears to have been not only the father of his people , but also a righteous man.

‏ Genesis 20:1-2

CHAPTER XX

Abraham leaves Mamre, and, after having sojourned at Kadesh and Shur, settles in Gerar, 1.

Abimelech takes Sarah, Abraham having acknowledged her only as his sister, 2.

Abimelech is warned by God in a dream to restore Sarah, 3.

He asserts his innocence, 4, 5.

He is farther warned, 6, 7.

Expostulates with Abraham, 8-10.

Abraham vindicates his conduct, 11-13.

Abimelech restores Sarah, makes Abraham a present of sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves, 14;

offers him a residence in any part of the land, 15;

and reproves Sarah, 16.

At the intercession of Abraham, the curse of barrenness is removed from Abimelech and his household, 17, 18.

NOTES ON CHAP. XX

Verse 1. And Abraham journeyed] It is very likely that this holy man was so deeply affected with the melancholy prospect of the ruined cities, and not knowing what was become of his nephew Lot and his family, that he could no longer bear to dwell within sight of the place. Having, therefore, struck his tents, and sojourned for a short time at Kadesh and Shur, he fixed his habitation in Gerar, which was a city of Arabia Petraea, under a king of the Philistines called Abimelech, my father king, who appears to have been not only the father of his people, but also a righteous man.

Verse 2. She is my sister] See the parallel account, Ge 12:11-20, and the notes there. Sarah was now about ninety years of age, and probably pregnant with Isaac. Her beauty, therefore, must have been considerably impaired since the time she was taken in a similar manner by Pharaoh, king of Egypt; but she was probably now chosen by Abimelech more on the account of forming an alliance with Abraham, who was very rich, than on account of any personal accomplishments. A petty king, such as Abimelech, would naturally be glad to form an alliance with such a powerful chief as Abraham was: we cannot but recollect his late defeat of the four confederate Canannitish kings. See Clarke on Ge 14:14, &c. This circumstance was sufficient to establish his credit, and cause his friendship to be courted; and what more effectual means could Abimelech use in reference to this than the taking of Sarah, who he understood was Abraham's sister, to be his concubine or second wife, which in those times had no kind of disgrace attached to it?