Genesis 20:7-17

7 Now return the man's wife. He's a prophet; he will pray for you so you may live. But if you don't return her, know that you and everyone with you will die!"

8 Abimelech got up early in the morning and summoned all of his servants. When he told them everything that had happened, the men were terrified.

9 Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that you have brought this terrible sin to me and my kingdom, by doing to me something that simply isn't done?"

10 Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking when you did this thing?"

11 Abraham said, "I thought to myself, No one reveres God here and they will kill me to get my wife.

12 She is, truthfully, my sister—my father's daughter but not my mother's daughter—and she's now my wife.

13 When God led me away from my father's household, I said to her, ‘This is the loyalty I expect from you: in each place we visit, tell them, “He is my brother.”'"

14 Abimelech took flocks, cattle, male servants, and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and Abimelech returned his wife Sarah.

15 Abimelech said, "My land is here available to you. Live wherever you wish."

16 To Sarah, he said, "I've given your brother one thousand pieces of silver. It means that neither you nor anyone with you has done anything wrong. Everything has been set right."

17 Abraham prayed to God; and God restored Abimelech, his wife, and his women servants to health, and they were able to have children.

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Genesis 20:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 20

This chapter relates the removal of Abraham to Gerar, Ge 20:1; the king of Gerar's taking to him Sarah, whom Abraham had called his sister, Ge 20:2; who is rebuked of God for it in a dream, Ge 20:3; for which he makes an apology that is admitted, only he is ordered to restore to Abraham his wife, Ge 20:4-7; and accordingly early in the morning he called his servants, and acquainted them with what had happened, Ge 20:8; and then sent for Abraham, and expressed his resentment at his usage of him, Ge 20:9; which Abraham defended as well as he could, Ge 20:10-13; the issue of all which was, great kindness was shown to Abraham, and his wife restored to him, though with a reproof to her from the king, Ge 20:14-16; upon which Abraham prayed for the healing of Abimelech and his family, in which he was heard and answered, Ge 20:17,18.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Genesis 20:7-17

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Genesis 20:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 20