Genesis 12:17

17 Und Jehova schlug den Pharao und sein Haus mit großen Plagen um Sarais willen, des Weibes Abrams.

Genesis 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 12:17

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great
plagues
Perhaps with the same sort that Abimelech and his servants were smote with on a like account, ( Genesis 20:17 Genesis 20:18 ) . The Jews

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 say they were smitten with ulcers; not only Pharaoh was plagued, but those of his household also, his courtiers and servants, who were accessary to the bringing of Sarai into his house; for all this was

because of Sarai, Abram's wife;
or "upon the word of Sarai" ^F9, as it may be literally rendered: hence the Jews have a notion, that an angel stood by Sarai with a scourge in his hand, and when Sarai bid him smite Pharaoh, he smote him ^F11; but (rbd) signifies not a word only, but thing, matter and business: and so Onkelos renders it here: and the sense is, that Pharaoh and his courtiers were smitten, because of the affair and business of Sarai; because she was taken by them, and detained in Pharaoh's house, and designed to be made his wife or concubine; and thus for evil intentions was this punishment inflicted; so that evil designs, not brought into execution, are punishable; though the word of Sarai may mean what she was bid to say, and did.
F8 Jarchi in loc. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 41. fol. 35. 4.
F9 (yrv rbd le) "propter verbum Sarai", Montanus; "super verbo", Munster, Piscator.
F11 Jarchi in loc. Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 41. fol. 35. 4.)

Genesis 12:17 In-Context

15 Und die Fürsten des Pharao sahen sie und priesen sie dem Pharao; und das Weib wurde in das Haus des Pharao geholt.

16 Und er tat Abram Gutes um ihretwillen; und er bekam Kleinvieh und Rinder und Esel und Knechte und Mägde und Eselinnen und Kamele.

17 Und Jehova schlug den Pharao und sein Haus mit großen Plagen um Sarais willen, des Weibes Abrams.

18 Und der Pharao ließ Abram rufen und sprach: Was hast du mir da getan? Warum hast du mir nicht kundgetan, daß sie dein Weib ist?

19 Warum hast du gesagt: Sie ist meine Schwester, so daß ich sie mir zum Weibe nahm? Und nun siehe, da ist dein Weib, nimm sie und gehe hin.