Bereshis 20:4

4 But Avimelech had not come near her; and he said, Adonoi, wilt Thou slay also a goy tzaddik?

Bereshis 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?

Bereshis 20:4 In-Context

2 And Avraham said of Sarah his isha, She is my achot; and Avimelech Melech Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 But Elohim came to Avimelech in a chalom halailah, and said to him, See, thou art met (dead), for the isha which thou hast taken; for she is be’ulat ba’al (married of a husband).

4 But Avimelech had not come near her; and he said, Adonoi, wilt Thou slay also a goy tzaddik?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my achot? and she, even she herself said, He is achi: in the tohm (integrity, guilelessness) of my lev and with clean hands of my innocency have I done this.

6 And HaElohim said unto him in a chalom, Yea, I have da’as that thou didst this in the tohm (integrity, guilelessness) of thy lev; for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me; therefore allowed I thee not to touch her.