Genesis 20:8

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning. And he called all his servants and {told them all these things}, and the men were very afraid.

Genesis 20:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 20:8

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning
Awaking upon the dream, could sleep no more, his thoughts running upon what had been said to him by the Lord in it: wherefore as soon as it was light he rose from his bed, and called all his servants;
his household servants, and particularly his courtiers and counsellors, who had advised him to take Sarah for his wife, and had been assisting in it: and told all those things in their ears:
how that God appeared to him in a dream, and told him that Sarah, whom he had taken into his house, was another man's wife, and that if he did not immediately return her to her husband, he would die, and all that belonged to him: and the men were sore afraid;
lest they should be struck with death; and perhaps they might call to mind the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins, they had lately heard of, and might fear that some such calamity would befall them.

Genesis 20:8 In-Context

6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you did this, and I also {kept you from sinning} against me. Therefore, I did not allow you to touch her.
7 So now, return the wife of the man, for he [is] a prophet, so that he will pray for you and you will live. And {if you do not return her}, know that you will certainly die, and all that [are] yours."
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning. And he called all his servants and {told them all these things}, and the men were very afraid.
9 And Abimelech called for Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you that you brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? You have done things to me that should not be done."
10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "{What were you thinking} that you did this thing?"

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "said all these things in their ears"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.