Gênesis 20:4

4 Ora, Abimeleque ainda não se havia chegado a ela: perguntou, pois: Senhor matarás porventura tambem uma nação justa?

Gênesis 20:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 20:4

But Abimelech had not come near her
Sarah had been put into an apartment in his palace, and not yet admitted into his company, not at least to his bed; he had not lain with her, which is the design of the expression: the Septuagint version is, "had not touched her", as in ( Genesis 20:6 ) ; which is another phrase expressive of the same thing: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
meaning either his family, the greater part of which were not accessory to this affair; or rather his kingdom, as Aben Ezra, see ( Genesis 20:9 ) ; which though not a nation of righteous men, in a strict sense, see ( Genesis 20:11 ) ; yet with regard to this business of Sarah were no ways criminal: either God had threatened to destroy his people, as well as himself, if he did not return Sarah to her husband, or committed iniquity with her; or he knew that this had been usual for people to suffer for the crimes of their governors, and like a true father of his country shows an affectionate concern for their welfare in the first place; for this may be the sense of the word "also", on which an emphasis is put; wilt thou not only slay me, but also a whole nation for my sake, a nation free from all fault and blame in this matter? though some think he has reference to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a recent action, and fresh in his mind; as if he should say, thou hast justly destroyed a wicked people for their sins, and wilt thou also destroy a nation that at least, in comparison of them, is a just and righteous one?

Gênesis 20:4 In-Context

2 E havendo Abraão dito de Sara, sua mulher: É minha irmã; enviou Abimeleque, rei de Gerar, e tomou a Sara.

3 Deus, porém, veio a Abimeleque, em sonhos, de noite, e disse-lhe: Eis que estás para morrer por causa da mulher que tomaste; porque ela tem marido.

4 Ora, Abimeleque ainda não se havia chegado a ela: perguntou, pois: Senhor matarás porventura tambem uma nação justa?

5 Não me disse ele mesmo: É minha irmã? e ela mesma me disse: Ele é meu irmão; na sinceridade do meu coração e na inocência das minhas mãos fiz isto.

6 Ao que Deus lhe respondeu em sonhos: Bem sei eu que na sinceridade do teu coração fizeste isto; e também eu te tenho impedido de pecar contra mim; por isso não te permiti tocá-la;