Bible Commentaries
Genesis 20

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 20:1, Abraham sojourns at Gerar; Genesis 20:2, Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech; Genesis 20:3, Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream; Genesis 20:9, He rebukes Abraham; Genesis 20:14, Restores Sarah; Genesis 20:16, and reproves her; Genesis 20:17, Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham’s prayer.

Verse 1

am cir, 2107, bc cir, 1897

from: Genesis 13:1, Genesis 18:1, Genesis 24:62

Kadesh: Genesis 14:7, Genesis 16:1, Genesis 16:7, Genesis 16:14, Numbers 13:26, Numbers 20:16, Deuteronomy 1:19, Deuteronomy 32:51, 1 Samuel 15:7, Psalms 29:8

Gerar: Gerar was a city of Arabia Petrea, under a king of the Philistines, 25 miles from Eleutheropolis beyond Daroma, in the south of Judah. From Genesis 10:19, it appears to have been situated in the angle where the south and west sides of Canaan met, and to have been not far from Gaza. Jerome, in his Hebrew Traditions on Genesis, says, from Gerar to Jerusalem was three days' journey. There was a wood near Gerar, spoken of by Theodoret; and a brook - Genesis 26:26, on which was a monastery, noticed by Sozomen. Genesis 10:19, Genesis 26:1, Genesis 26:6, Genesis 26:20, Genesis 26:26, 2 Chronicles 14:13, 2 Chronicles 14:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:34 - General Genesis 25:18 - Havilah Genesis 26:3 - Sojourn 1 Chronicles 16:20 - they went Psalms 105:14 - General

Verse 2

said: Genesis 12:11-13, Genesis 26:7, 2 Chronicles 19:2, 2 Chronicles 20:37, 2 Chronicles 32:31, Proverbs 24:16, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Galatians 2:11, Galatians 2:12, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9

Abimelech: Genesis 12:15, Genesis 26:1, Genesis 26:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:13 - thou Genesis 20:14 - restored Genesis 21:22 - Abimelech Genesis 34:2 - took her Judges 8:31 - Abimelech Proverbs 29:25 - fear

Verse 3

a dream: Genesis 28:12, Genesis 31:24, Genesis 37:5, Genesis 37:9, Genesis 40:8, Genesis 41:1-36, Job 4:12, Job 4:13, Job 33:15, Matthew 1:20, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 27:19

a dead: Genesis 20:7, Psalms 105:14, Ezekiel 33:14, Ezekiel 33:15, Jonah 3:4

a man's wife: Heb. married to an husband

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:26 - Abimelech Genesis 38:24 - let her Genesis 39:9 - how then Genesis 40:5 - General Genesis 41:7 - a dream Exodus 12:33 - We be all Numbers 22:9 - God 2 Samuel 12:10 - hast taken 1 Chronicles 16:21 - he reproved Zechariah 1:8 - by night Matthew 19:9 - doth John 4:18 - is not

Verse 4

had: Genesis 20:6, Genesis 20:18

wilt: Genesis 20:17, Genesis 20:18, Genesis 18:23-25, Genesis 19:24, 2 Samuel 4:11, 1 Chronicles 21:17

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:13 - what I did Proverbs 6:29 - toucheth

Verse 5

in the integrity: or, simplicity, or sincerity, Joshua 22:22, 1 Kings 9:4, 2 Kings 20:3, 1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalms 7:8, Psalms 25:21, Psalms 78:72, Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 20:7, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Timothy 1:13

and innocency: Job 33:9, Psalms 24:4, Psalms 26:6, Psalms 73:13, Daniel 6:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:13 - thou Genesis 20:16 - thy Genesis 26:7 - She is my sister Joshua 24:14 - serve 1 Samuel 22:15 - Did I then 2 Samuel 15:11 - their simplicity 1 Kings 18:13 - what I did Job 17:9 - clean Psalms 51:6 - Behold Romans 2:15 - accusing Philippians 1:10 - that ye may be

Verse 6

withheld: Genesis 20:18, Genesis 31:7, Genesis 35:5, Exodus 34:24, 1 Samuel 25:26, 1 Samuel 25:34, Psalms 84:11, Proverbs 21:1, Hosea 2:6, Hosea 2:7

sinning: Genesis 39:9, Leviticus 6:2, Psalms 51:4, Psalms 81:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

to touch: Genesis 3:3, Genesis 26:11, 1 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Corinthians 6:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:4 - had Genesis 28:12 - he dreamed Genesis 31:10 - a dream Deuteronomy 18:14 - hath not suffered Joshua 24:14 - serve Ruth 2:9 - touch thee 1 Samuel 22:15 - Did I then Job 33:17 - withdraw Psalms 19:13 - Keep Psalms 51:6 - Behold Zechariah 2:8 - for Matthew 2:12 - warned

Verse 7

a prophet: The word navi, rendered a prophet, not only signifies one who foretell future events, but also an intercessor, instructor. See note on 1 Samuel 10:1, see note on 1 Kings 18:1-46, and see note on 1 Corinthians 14:4. The title was also given to men eminent for eloquence and literary abilities. Hence Aaron, because he was the spokesman of Moses to the Egyptian king, is called a prophet. Exodus 4:16, Exodus 7:1, Exodus 12:1-3, Exodus 18:17, Exodus 7:1, 1 Chronicles 16:22, Psalms 25:14, Psalms 105:9-15, Hebrews 1:1

pray: Leviticus 6:4, Leviticus 6:7, 1 Samuel 7:5, 1 Samuel 7:8, 1 Samuel 12:19, 1 Samuel 12:23, 2 Samuel 24:17, 1 Kings 13:6, 2 Kings 5:11, 2 Kings 19:2-4, Job 42:8, Jeremiah 14:11, Jeremiah 15:1, Jeremiah 27:18, James 5:14-16, 1 John 5:16, Revelation 11:5, Revelation 11:6

surely: Genesis 20:18, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 12:17, Job 34:19, Psalms 105:14, Ezekiel 3:18, Ezekiel 33:8, Ezekiel 33:14-16, Hebrews 13:4

all: Genesis 12:15, Numbers 16:32, Numbers 16:33, 2 Samuel 24:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:3 - a dead Genesis 20:14 - restored Genesis 20:17 - General Genesis 28:12 - he dreamed Genesis 38:24 - let her Numbers 12:6 - a prophet Numbers 21:7 - And Moses 2 Chronicles 30:18 - prayed Psalms 105:15 - and do Matthew 2:12 - warned Matthew 10:41 - that receiveth a prophet John 9:31 - him Acts 3:25 - the children Acts 8:24 - Pray James 5:16 - The effectual

Verse 9

What hast: Genesis 12:18, Genesis 26:10, Exodus 32:21, Exodus 32:35, Joshua 7:25, 1 Samuel 26:18, 1 Samuel 26:19, Proverbs 28:10

a great: Genesis 38:24, Genesis 39:9, Leviticus 20:10, 2 Samuel 12:5, 2 Samuel 12:10, 2 Samuel 12:11, Romans 2:11, Hebrews 13:4

ought: Genesis 34:7, 2 Samuel 13:12, Titus 1:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:26 - What Genesis 38:20 - his friend Leviticus 4:2 - which ought 1 Kings 15:26 - in his sin 2 Kings 10:29 - made Israel 2 Kings 17:21 - a great sin 1 Chronicles 21:3 - why will 2 Chronicles 16:3 - break Job 31:11 - an heinous Romans 4:2 - but 1 Corinthians 8:12 - when James 3:10 - these

Verse 10

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:18 - General Genesis 26:10 - General Genesis 31:26 - What 2 Chronicles 16:3 - break

Verse 11

Surely: Genesis 22:12, Genesis 42:18, Nehemiah 5:15, Job 1:1, Job 28:28, Psalms 14:4, Psalms 36:1-4, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 2:5, Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 16:6, Romans 3:18

slay: Genesis 12:12, Genesis 26:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:14 - took Genesis 21:10 - Cast out Genesis 31:31 - Because Exodus 1:17 - feared God Exodus 20:20 - his fear Leviticus 25:17 - fear Judges 15:18 - and fall Nehemiah 5:9 - walk Job 6:14 - he forsaketh Proverbs 29:25 - fear Malachi 3:5 - fear 1 Peter 2:17 - Fear

Verse 12

And yet: Genesis 11:29, Genesis 12:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:22

she is the: Ebn Batrik, in his annals, among other ancient traditions, has preserved the following: "Terah first married Yona, by whom he had Abraham; afterwards he married Tehevita, by whom he had Sarah.

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:7 - She is my sister Leviticus 20:17 - General Song of Solomon 4:9 - my sister

Verse 13

God: Genesis 12:1, Genesis 12:9, Genesis 12:11-20, Acts 7:3-5, Hebrews 11:8

This: 1 Samuel 23:21, Psalms 64:5, Acts 5:9

say: Genesis 12:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:7 - She is my sister

Verse 14

took: Genesis 20:11, Genesis 12:16

restored: Genesis 20:2, Genesis 20:7, Genesis 12:19, Genesis 12:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:23 - I have

Verse 15

my land: Genesis 13:9, Genesis 34:10, Genesis 47:6

where it pleaseth thee: Heb. as is good in thine eyes

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:51 - Rebekah Genesis 45:16 - it pleased Pharaoh well Genesis 45:20 - the good

Verse 16

thy: Genesis 20:5, Proverbs 27:5

thousand: What these pieces were is not certain; but it is probable they were shekels, as it is so understood by the Targum; and the LXX render it didrachma, by which the Hebrew shekel is rendered in Genesis 23:15, Genesis 23:16.

behold: Or, "behold IT (the 1,000 shekels) is to thee," etc. Genesis 26:11

a covering: Genesis 24:65

thus: 1 Chronicles 21:3-6, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 9:9, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 25:12, Proverbs 27:5, Jonah 1:6, Revelation 3:19

Reciprocal: Song of Solomon 8:11 - a thousand 1 Corinthians 11:10 - power Ephesians 5:11 - but

Verse 17

Genesis 20:7, Genesis 29:31, 1 Samuel 5:11, 1 Samuel 5:12, Ezra 6:10, Job 42:9, Job 42:10, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 15:29, Isaiah 45:11, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 21:22, Acts 3:24, Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, James 5:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:4 - wilt Genesis 21:22 - God Ruth 4:13 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 30:18 - prayed Job 42:8 - my servant Job shall Psalms 6:2 - heal Psalms 30:2 - and Jeremiah 27:18 - let them Acts 8:24 - Pray 1 John 5:16 - he shall ask

Verse 18

Genesis 20:7, Genesis 12:17, Genesis 16:2, Genesis 30:2, 1 Samuel 1:6, 1 Samuel 5:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:4 - had Genesis 20:6 - withheld Genesis 29:31 - he opened Ruth 4:13 - the Lord 1 Samuel 1:5 - shut up Job 3:10 - it shut not