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Parsha 4: Vayera (continued)
(“He
Appeared,” Gen. 18:1-22:24)
(Small Roman numerals in the text indicate each
'aliyah.)
[Gerar [MAP] ca 1867 BCE*]
D. Abraham Deceives Abimelech (20:1-18)
1. Abraham Lies to Abimelech (20:1-2)
1 Avraham traveled from there toward the region of the NegebNegev, south county, [MAP] and stayed between Kadesh“holy” [MAP] and Shur“wall” - a place southwest of Israel on the eastern border or within the border of Egypt. [MAP] While he was living as a foreigner in Gerar“a lodging place” - a Philistine town south of Gaza, modern “Umm”, [MAP] 2 Avraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” King Avimelech“my father is king” of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.[2]
2. HaShem Appears in a Dread (20:3-7)
3 One night Elohim[GN] came to Avimelech in a dream, and told him, “You’re a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
4 Now Avimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “My Lord, would You destroy a nation, even though it is innocent? 5 Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and innocent hands.”
6 Elohim said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have also kept you from sinning against me. That is why I didn’t let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet;[7] he will pray for you and you will live. But if you don’t return her, know for sure that you will surely die, you and all who belong to you.”
3. Abraham Offers a Defense (20:8-13)
8 Avimelech rose early in the morning and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified. 9 Then Avimelech called Avraham, and asked him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not to be done!” 10 Avimelech asked Avraham, “What made you do such a thing?”
11 Avraham answered, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of Elohim in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 When Elohim caused me to travel from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’”
4. Abimelech Shows Forgiveness (20:14-16)
14 So Avimelech brought sheep and cattle, male and female servants, and gave them to Avraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him. 15 Avimelech said, “Hinneh,[GN] my land is before you. Settle wherever you like.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Hinneh, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it your vindication in the eyes of all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
5. Prayer for Abimelech (20:17-18)
17 Then Avraham prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Avimelech, his wife, and his maidservants so they could again bear children, 18 for on account of Avraham’s wife Sarah, ADONAI [GN] had completely closed all the wombs in Avimelech’s household.
2. Again we have testimony of Sarah’s great beauty. Here she is 90 years old and pregnant with Isaac, yet still a desirable woman. [BACK]
7. This is the first time in the Tanakh that Avraham is called a prophet [Heb נָבּיא (nā·ḇî), spokesman, one who speaks for another]. [BACK]
Other commentaries on Genesis 20
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Pulpit Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Other commentaries on Genesis 20
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Pulpit Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
