Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 20:14-18”
Categories: Genesis“Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him. Abimelech said, ‘Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.’ To Sarah he said, ‘Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared.’ Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children. For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”
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“Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham…” (verse 14) Even though Abimelech maintained his integrity and innocence in the matter (verse 6), and the Lord acknowledged his integrity as well, Abraham still received compensation as the injured party. But then again, Abimelech was in no position to protest about his predicament, and it was obvious that Abraham and his wife/sister were both highly esteemed and cherished by the Almighty God of heaven. So the reeling monarch lavished gifts upon the great patriarch as an honored guest and “restored his wife Sarah to him,” while simultaneously venerating the Lord who protected them.
“Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.” (verse 15) Consider how differently Abimelech treated Abraham as compared to Pharaoh in the very same situation. Pharaoh gave Abraham gifts in return for Sarah’s hand (Genesis 12:16), while Abimelech gave the patriarch presents upon returning her to her rightful place. Abimelech allowed Abraham and his family to live safely in his kingdom as a citizen in good standing, saying, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.” While Pharaoh chastised Abraham and summarily dismissed him saying: “‘Why did you say, “She is my sister,” so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.’ Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away…” (Genesis 12:19-20) I can certainly understand Pharaoh’s vexation, but he did not express proper submissiveness and reverence to God as Abimelech did when he honored and blessed the people who the Lord obviously esteemed and supported. It seems obvious that Abimelech feared God Almighty and Pharaoh did not.
“To Sarah he said, ‘Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver…” (verse 16) Abimelech either called Abraham Sarah’s “brother” as a bit of a sarcastic barb, or maybe as a backhanded attempt to maintain his innocence as one who had been deceived. There is no way to determine the current value of the silver given, but it was no doubt a handsome sum. “It is your vindication…” (verse 16) “Hebrew kesut ‘einayim, literally ‘a covering of eyes,’ is a unique phrase of uncertain meaning. Taken literally, it could be a recommendation that in the future Sarah should not appear in public with uncovered face so that her beauty will not be a temptation to men. Interpreted figuratively, the phrase tells us that the payment is a recognition that Sarah’s honor was not violated, and so the eyes of others are henceforth closed to what has occurred and she will not be an object of scorn.” (Nahum Sarna)
“Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.” (verse 17) Abimelech, no doubt, had besought Abraham to pray for him as the Lord had revealed must take place in his divinely induced dream (verse 7). “For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech…” God had likely stricken Abimelech and his harem with an ailment of the reproductive organs. Maybe this was how the Lord had prevented Abimelech from “touching” Sarah (verse 6). The Lord had afflicted “Abimelech because of Sarah,” in order to protect her and the promised, sacred seed that would come forth from her blessed womb.
One practical lesson we can learn from this whole sad affair is how to properly deal with a situation gone awry, whether by our own making or caused by someone else. Abraham assumed that the people of Gerar were godless lowlifes who would kill him and take his wife, so he used deception to fend off a potential threat. It turns out that he was greatly mistaken in this regard. When he realized his mistake (sin) he did right by the people that he sinned against. Abimelech found himself in a perilous predicament that, for the most part, was not his fault. When he learned that he had greatly displeased the Lord God Almighty, he committed straight away to setting things right. He defended himself to be certain, but he did so in a dignified way, and then treated the people who defrauded him with respect and kindness. More importantly, he never blamed God for his dilemma and showed Him honor and reverence by humbly obeying Him at His word. Sometimes we can learn a great deal from people we would least expect to. Sometimes we can learn how not to behave from the poor examples of even the heroes of our faith.
Please read Genesis 21:1-7 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
