Bible Commentaries
Genesis 20

Verse 1

south = the Negeb. See Genesis 12:9 ; Genesis 13:1 .

Verse 2

said. Abraham's expedient = the next assault on Abraham in the Great Conflict for the destruction of the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15 ). See App-23 . God had to intervene (Genesis 20:3 ), for man could know nothing of it. Abraham's fear shown in Genesis 20:11 .

my sister = half-sister. See note on Genesis 20:12 and App-29 .

Abimelech. Hebrew. Father-king. The official title of the kings of Gerar (Compare Genesis 26:1 ), like Pharaoh in Egypt.

took. See note on Genesis 21:7 . In Sarah's conception God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac (Genesis 21:7 ).

Verse 3

dream. 20 recorded in Scripture (see App-10 ). Genesis 20:3 ; Genesis 28:12 ; Genesis 31:10 , Genesis 31:24 ; Genesis 37:5 , Genesis 37:9 ; Genesis 40:5 , Genesis 40:6 ; Genesis 41:1 , Genesis 41:5 , Genesis 41:5 .Judges 7:13 . 1 Kings 3:5 .Daniel 2:3 ; Daniel 4:5 ; Daniel 7:1 .Matthew 1:20 ; Matthew 2:12 , Matthew 2:13 , Matthew 2:19 ; Matthew 27:19 .

man . . . for. Figure of speech Aposiopesis, or "sudden silence". We must supply "If thou dost not restore her"; or "I will slay thee". See verses: Genesis 20:4 and Genesis 20:7 .

Verse 4

LORD* = Jehovah. One of the 134 emendations of the Sopherim. See App-32 .

also, i.e. as well as Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19:0 .

nation. Abimelech evidently expected God to slay the whole nation.

Verse 6

I also withheld. Divine intervention needed. Compare Genesis 20:2 . Note the emphatic pronouns. See App-23 .

sinning. See App-44 .

touch. Here is the Hebrew word naga = touch, used in a clear understandable sense as it is used in Genesis 3:3 , "neither shall ye touch it". See note on Genesis 3:3 .

Verse 7

prophet. First occ, showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning = God's spokesman. Here, it is prayer (compare Exodus 4:16 with Exodus 7:1 ), and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing (1 Corinthians 11:5 ).

Verse 9

What. Figure of speech Aganactesis.

sin. Hebrew. chat'a. See App-44 .

Verse 10

sawest thou = hadst thou seen.

Verse 11

thought. Hebrew. said : i.e. said [to myself ].

slay me. Showing how his fears were worked upon by the enemy. See Genesis 20:2 .

Verse 12

sister. The daughter of Terah by another wife (than Abraham's mother): therefore, Abraham's half-sister. See App-29 .

Verse 13

caused. The verb is in the plural. kindness. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). Kindness put for the kind deeds caused by it.

Verse 14

and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

Verse 16

brother. Figure of speech Irony.

covering, &c. Figure of speech Periphrasis. App-6 . Having called Abraham her "brother", he uses this beautiful Figure for her husband. Compare Genesis 24:65 . 1 Corinthians 11:5 , &c.

reproved, i.e. by the Irony.