Génesis 20:4

4 Mas Abimelec no se había llegado a ella, y dijo: Señor, ¿matarás también la gente justa

Génesis 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?

Génesis 20:4 In-Context

2 Y decía Abraham de Sara su mujer: Mi hermana es. Y Abimelec, rey de Gerar, envió y tomó a Sara

3 Pero Dios vino a Abimelec en sueños de noche, y le dijo: He aquí muerto eres por la mujer que has tomado, la cual es casada con marido

4 Mas Abimelec no se había llegado a ella, y dijo: Señor, ¿matarás también la gente justa

5 ¿No me dijo él: Mi hermana es; y ella también dijo: Es mi hermano? Con sencillez de mi corazón, y con limpieza de mis manos he hecho esto

6 Y le dijo Dios en sueños: Yo también sé que con integridad de tu corazón has hecho esto; y yo también te detuve de pecar contra mí, y así no te permití que la tocaras