Geneses Chapter 20- Selling Wife Again

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Geneses Chapter 20- Selling Wife Again

The Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GEN.20.NIV

Abraham and Abimelek

1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, (2, Map) 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” (The same thing happened again. 12:11ff) Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. (The king of Gerar took Sarah.)

3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” (God immediately blocked Abimelek not like in Egypt where the protection delayed. Sarah had been rejuvenated at this time to be able to conceive. She will be the mother of the chosen son Isaac.) (1, Differences between Egypt and Gerar)

4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” (Abimelek defended himself for not knowing Sarah was married.)

6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. (God prohibited Sarah being violated and Abimelek being punished.)

7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet (a man of God), and he will pray for you (mediating) and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.” (If not returning Sarah, will be punished severely.)

8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. (Abimelek warned his subordinates not to violate God's order for Abraham's family.)

9 Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”

10 And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?” (Abimelek rebuked Abraham for his false report on Sarah.)

11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” (Abraham excused himself with selfish reasons. It might be a typical thing that can happen anytime anywhere at the time of Abraham.)

14 Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.

15 And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”

16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” (Abimelek compensated Abraham and Sarah with land, animals and slaves.)

17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18 for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah. (God made the birth of the Abimelek family possible again with Abraham's prayers. God made Abraham a significant leader of the area.)

(1, Differences between Egypt and Gerar) (AI)

God’s responses to Abraham’s lies about Sarah in Egypt and Gerar differed primarily in method—direct plague vs. dream intervention—and in how God handled the innocent party. In Egypt, God sent plagues on Pharaoh’s household for taking Sarah (Gen 12:17), while in Gerar, God appeared to Abimelech in a dream to prevent adultery and acknowledged his integrity (Gen 20:3–6).

Differences in God's Response:

Action Method: In Egypt, God afflicted Pharaoh with severe plagues, implying a swift physical intervention to stop the situation. In Gerar, God spoke to Abimelech in a dream, giving him a direct warning to prevent him from taking Sarah.

Innocent Party Recognition: In Egypt, Pharaoh was not recognized as innocent and faced judgment for taking her. In Gerar, God told Abimelech, "I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart", showing mercy because Abimelech was deceived by Abraham.

Preventative Intervention: In Gerar, God specifically acted before the sin was completed, stating, "I kept you from sinning against me".

Outcomes: Both situations resulted in the return of Sarah and Abraham gaining wealth, but the Gerar incident involved Abraham praying for the healing of Abimelech’s household (Gen 20:17), showing a direct role for Abraham in the resolution.

Despite these differences, both acts demonstrated God’s commitment to protecting the covenant promise regarding Sarah bearing Isaac.

Sarah had been rejuvenated at this time to be able to conceive- or might be impregnated. She will be the mother of the chosen son Isaac.

(2, Map, Gerar)

https://www.freebiblestudies.uk/genesis20.html