Genesis 20:13-18

13 And it happened [that] as God caused me to wander from the house of my father I said to her, 'This [is] your loyal kindness that you must do for me at every place where we come: say concerning me, "He [is] my brother." '"
14 And Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male slaves and female slaves, and he gave [them] to Abraham. And he returned Sarah his wife to him.
15 And Abimelech said, "Here [is] my land before you; settle {where it pleases you}."
16 And to Sarah he said, "Look, I have given a thousand [pieces of] silver to your brother. It [shall be] {an exoneration}. {You are vindicated before all who are with you}."
17 And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female servants so that they [could] bear children [again].
18 For Yahweh had completely closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of the matter of Sarah, the wife of Abraham.

Genesis 20:13-18 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.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Literally "in the good in your eyes"
  • [b]. Literally "a covering of the eyes"
  • [c]. Literally "to all who are with you and with all you are vindicated"
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