Genesis 20
20
Sarah Taken into the King’s Harem
1Abraham journeyed from the oaks of Mamre to the southern region of Canaan # 20:1 Or “the land of the Negev.” and settled between Kadesh and Shur, to live as a temporary resident in Gerar. # 20:1 This would have been an arduous journey as Abraham was a very wealthy man with hundreds of servants and many flocks and herds of livestock. Gerar means “lodging place” and was a Philistine city-kingdom south of Gaza. 2Now Abraham had said about his wife Sarah, “She’s my sister.” So Abimelech, # 20:2 Abimelech has two possible meanings: “Melech [Molech] is my father” or “my father is king.” king of Gerar, sent for her and took her into his harem. # 20:2 Sarah was ninety years old. God had supernaturally rejuvenated her and made her attractive to a king. According to Jewish tradition, “her flesh was rejuvenated, her wrinkles smoothed out, and her original beauty was restored” (Bava Metzi’a 87a). The Dead Sea Scrolls likewise comment on Sarah’s miraculous restoration due to her faith in the promise of God with these words: “Fair indeed are her eyes . . . and all the radiance of her face . . . and her hands how perfect. Her legs how beautiful and without blemish her thighs . . . And when the king heard the words of [his three officials], he desired her exceedingly, and he sent [them] at once to bring her to him, and he looked upon her and marveled at all her loveliness . . . and he [God] sought to slay me.” See The Message of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Simon & Schuster, 1957. 3One night, God appeared to Abimelech in a dream # 20:3 We see from this not only that God speaks in dreams to the righteous, but that he will also come to the lost and share his heart with them (see Prov. 21:1). Dreams are powerful avenues into the human spirit. God may speak to you in dreams, if you will listen. and said to him, “You’re as good as dead, for you have taken into your harem a married woman!”
4Now Abimelech had not touched Sarah, so he said to the Lord, “Would you really destroy people who are innocent? # 20:4 Or “Would you really slaughter an innocent nation?” 5Didn’t the man tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And didn’t she agree and say, ‘Yes, he’s my brother’? I’ve done this with clean hands and a clear conscience.”
6Then God answered him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience. Furthermore, it was I who kept you from sinning and kept you from touching her. 7Now return the man’s wife, and because he is a prophet, # 20:7 This is the first time the word “prophet” is found in the Bible. The Hebrew word navi’ means “to bubble up,” referring to the stirring of the Holy Spirit that bubbles up through the prophet with divine utterance. Navi’ is the most common word used for “prophet” and can also be translated “to declare” or “one who declares.” However, some etymologists connect it with Akkadian word nabû, “to call.” Assyrian kings had the title of “the one called,” that is, called by the gods. The form navi’ in Hebrew could also signify “one who receives the [divine] call.” he will intercede on your behalf that you may live. But if you don’t give her back—you will certainly die, you and your entire household.” # 20:7 See Ps. 105:15.
8So Abimelech rose early in the morning and gathered all his servants. When he told them about his dream, they were terrified! 9Abimelech summoned Abraham and asked him, “What is this trick you have played on us? I did nothing wrong to you. Why would you bring such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done to me what no one should ever do to another.” 10Then Abimelech asked, “What is your purpose in doing this?”
11Abraham answered, “Because I thought, ‘There’s no one here that fears God. They will kill me to get to my wife.’ # 20:11 Or “over the matter of my wife.” 12Besides, she really is my half sister. She’s my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s, so I married her. 13When God sent me out to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘Here is how you can show your love for me. Everywhere we go, you must say about me, “He’s my brother.” ’ ”
14Then Abimelech gave Abraham’s wife Sarah back to him. In addition, he gave him sheep, cattle, and both male and female servants. 15Abimelech told him, “Look, my land is now before you; feel free to settle wherever you please.” 16Then he turned to Sarah and said, “I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver # 20:16 Or “a thousand shekels,” which would amount to about twenty-five pounds of silver. as compensation to settle any claim against me, to exonerate you in the eyes of all who are with you, # 20:16 Or “a covering of eyes.” The Hebrew is uncertain. and to clear your reputation.”
17Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech! He also healed Abimelech’s wife and female servants of their infertility and they began to have babies again. # 20:17 Considering that Abraham’s wife had never given him a child, it was an amazing miracle for Abraham to pray for someone else to give birth! The very first healing in the Bible was through the prayer of a childless man, Abraham. He had no confidence in himself as he prayed this prayer of faith. However, he could pray in total confidence that it had to be God doing the miracle. He prayed for the very thing he had not yet received. When the last two verses of Gen. 20 are read together with the first two verses of Gen. 21, we see that Isaac’s conception occurred as a result of Abraham’s prayer for another person with an identical need. 18For Yahweh had shut all the wombs of the women of Abimelech’s household because he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
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Genesis 20: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationGenesis 20
20
Abraham and Abimelech
1 Abraham journeyed from there to the Negev#tn Or “the South [country]”; Heb “the land of the Negev.”sn Negev is the name for the southern desert region in the land of Canaan. region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived as a temporary resident#tn Heb “and he sojourned.” in Gerar, 2 Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.
3 But God appeared#tn Heb “came.” to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead#tn Heb “Look, you [are] dead.” The Hebrew construction uses the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) with a second person pronominal particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) with by the participle. It is a highly rhetorical expression. because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.”#tn Heb “and she is owned by an owner.” The disjunctive clause is causal or explanatory in this case.
4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord,#tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay). would you really slaughter an innocent nation?#tn Apparently Abimelech assumes that God’s judgment will fall on his entire nation. Some, finding the reference to a nation problematic, prefer to emend the text and read, “Would you really kill someone who is innocent?” See E. A. Speiser, Genesis (AB), 149. 5 Did Abraham#tn Heb “he”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said,#tn Heb “and she, even she.” ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience#tn Heb “with the integrity of my heart.” and with innocent hands!”
6 Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience.#tn Heb “with the integrity of your heart.” That is why I have kept you#tn Heb “and I, even I, kept you.” from sinning against me and why#tn Heb “therefore.” I did not allow you to touch her. 7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed#tn Or “for,” if the particle is understood as causal (as many English translations do) rather than asseverative. he is a prophet#sn For a discussion of the term prophet see N. Walker, “What is a Nabhi?” ZAW 73 (1961): 99-100. and he will pray for you; thus you will live.#tn After the preceding jussive (or imperfect), the imperative with vav conjunctive here indicates result.sn He will pray for you that you may live. Abraham was known as a man of God whose prayer would be effectual. Ironically and sadly, he was also known as a liar. But if you don’t give her back,#tn Heb “if there is not you returning.” The suffix on the particle becomes the subject of the negated clause. know that you will surely die#tn The imperfect is preceded by the infinitive absolute to make the warning emphatic. along with all who belong to you.”
8 Early in the morning#tn Heb “And Abimelech rose early in the morning and he summoned.” Abimelech summoned#tn The verb קָרָא (qara’) followed by the preposition לְ (lamed) means “to summon.” all his servants. When he told them about all these things,#tn Heb “And he spoke all these things in their ears.” they#tn Heb “the men.” This has been replaced by the pronoun “they” in the translation for stylistic reasons. were terrified. 9 Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom?#tn Heb “How did I sin against you that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?” The expression “great sin” refers to adultery. For discussion of the cultural background of the passage, see J. J. Rabinowitz, “The Great Sin in Ancient Egyptian Marriage Contracts,” JNES 18 (1959): 73, and W. L. Moran, “The Scandal of the ‘Great Sin’ at Ugarit,” JNES 18 (1959): 280-81. You have done things to me that should not be done!”#tn Heb “Deeds which should not be done you have done to me.” The imperfect has an obligatory nuance here. 10 Then Abimelech asked#tn Heb “And Abimelech said to.” Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?”#tn Heb “What did you see that you did this thing?” The question implies that Abraham had some motive for deceiving Abimelech.
11 Abraham replied, “Because I thought,#tn Heb “Because I said.” ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of#tn Heb “over the matter of.” my wife.’ 12 What’s more,#tn Heb “but also.” she is indeed my sister, my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s daughter. She became my wife. 13 When God made me wander#tn The Hebrew verb is plural. This may be a case of grammatical agreement with the name for God, which is plural in form. However, when this plural name refers to the one true God, accompanying predicates are usually singular in form. Perhaps Abraham is accommodating his speech to Abimelech’s polytheistic perspective. (See GKC 463 §145.i.) If so, one should translate, “when the gods made me wander.” from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me:#tn Heb “This is your loyal deed which you can do for me.” Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”
14 So Abimelech gave#tn Heb “took and gave.” sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. 15 Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.”#tn Heb “In the [place that is] good in your eyes live!”
16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver#sn A thousand pieces [Heb “shekels”] of silver. The standards for weighing money varied considerably in the ancient Near East, but the generally accepted weight for the shekel is 11.5 grams (0.4 ounce). This makes the weight of silver here 11.5 kilograms, or 400 ounces (about 25 pounds). to your ‘brother.’#sn To your ‘brother.’ Note the way that the king refers to Abraham. Was he being sarcastic? It was surely a rebuke to Sarah. What is amazing is how patient this king was. It is proof that the fear of God was in that place, contrary to what Abraham believed (see v. 11). This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”#tn Heb “Look, it is for you a covering of the eyes, for all who are with you, and with all, and you are set right.” The exact meaning of the statement is unclear. Apparently it means that the gift of money somehow exonerates her in other people’s eyes. They will not look on her as compromised (see G. J. Wenham, Genesis [WBC], 2:74).
17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children. 18 For the Lord#tn In the Hebrew text the clause begins with “because.” had caused infertility to strike every woman#tn Heb had completely closed up every womb.” In the Hebrew text infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.sn The Lord had closed up every womb. This fact indicates that Sarah was in Abimelech’s household for weeks or months before the dream revelation was given (20:6-7). No one in his household could have children after Sarah arrived on the scene. in the household of Abimelech because he took#tn Heb “because of.” The words “he took” are supplied in the translation for clarity. Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
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