VERSE 1 Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar (rr'g>Bi rg"Y"w: rWv !ybeW vdeq'-!yBe bv,YEw: bg<N<h; hc'r>a; ~h'r'b.a; ~V'mi [S;YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nasa set out, journey + prep min w/adv sham there + proper noun Abraham + noun both s.abs. eretz land + def.art.w/proper noun Negeb, south + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yashab dwell + part bayin between + proper noun Kadesh, set apart + part bayith between + proper noun Shur, wall + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. gur abide, sojourn + proper noun Gerar, a weight]).

VERSE 2 Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister (awhi ytixoa] ATv.ai hr'f'-la, ~h'r'b.a; rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Abraham + prep el to + proper noun Sarah + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. achoth sister + pro.3f.s. hi she])."

So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah (hr'f'-ta, xQ;YIw: rr'G> %l,m, %l,m,ybia] xl;v.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. shlach send + proper noun Abimelech + noun m.s.abs. melek king + proper noun Gerar + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. laqach take + d.o. marker + proper noun Sarah]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-2

1. "Abraham journeyed…settled in Gerar" has the same pair of verbs as in 12:9-10 introducing a parallel incident.
2. On that occasion Abraham went well over the border of Canaan into Egypt, here he stays closer to Canaan.
3. The word "from there" in context must mean Mamre (cf. 18:1).
4. Abraham moved his herds "toward the land of the Negev" on the southern border of Canaan and turned back from the region to settle ("sojourned") as an alien in Gerar.
5. Moving from the grazing lands of the oasis of Kadesh and the Egyptian defense wall of Shur (see 14:7; 16:7), Abraham settles near the Philistine royal city of Gerar which is located about midway between Beersheba and Gaza.
6. In 12:11-16 we have a more expanded account of Abraham’s remarks and the royal actions is recorded.
7. Without the earlier account, verse 2 would be cryptic, as the narrator hastens on to focus on Abimelech’s dream and subsequent discussion with Abraham.
8. Curiously Abimelech is a Canaanite name, "My father is Milku," (king); a king of Tyre mentioned in the Amarna letters bore this name.
9. Abimelech is the name of Gideon’s son (Judg. 8:31), for a Philistine king in the time of David (title of Ps. 34), for an Israelite priest (1Chron. 18:16), for the son or grandson of Abimelech in the time of Isaac (Gen. 26:1).
10. Even though the name is of Canaanite derivation the kingdom at Gerar was Philistine (cf. Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:8, 14, 15, 18).
11. The Philistines were the descendants of Pathrusim and Casluhim, the sons of Mizraim (cf. Gen. 10:13-14).
12. Sarah’s youthful beauty had been rejuvenated (see 12:11; 18:11, 13) in the miracle that enabled her to bear a child at age 91.
13. She was not yet pregnant, but she was vulnerable.
14. Like Pharaoh twenty-four years earlier (1871), Abimelech is informed of Sarah’s beauty and sends for her (v.2).
15. Abimelech brings her into his harem as he is smitten by her beauty.
16. Abraham tells a half-truth, out of fear, telling Abimelech that Sarah is his sister.
17. This is an astonishing episode.
18. It seems incredible that Abraham should make the same dreadful mistake again: visiting a foreign land he passes his wife off as his sister.
19. In chap. 12 we may excuse him, because at that stage he had much less experience of God’s providential care, now years later and richer in experiences of deliverance from danger he fears for his life in Gerar.
20. The righteous man who pleaded for the city of Sodom is now found to be less than perfect in his trust in God’s safekeeping.
21. This is further extenuated by the fact that while Abraham resided in Mamre he was promised an heir by Sarah within one year.
22. All of this came right after the momentous events of chapters 18 and 19 which were designed to strengthen his faith.
23. Yet here we have him acting like someone who had no experience of divine deliverance and was unfamiliar with the promises of God.
24. This episode serves to demonstrate that even the greatest of believers can act totally out of character when confronted with some threat.
25. The doctrine that made up the covenant clearly specified that God would bless Abraham all the way to the grave (cf. 15:15) and that God would provide him with a descendant name Isaac within one year (17:19, 21), and yet Abraham in the face of an unknown situation totally craters in the face of what would turn out to be a nonexistent threat, as the king of Gerar was a righteous man.

God Threatens Abimelech (vv. 3-7)

VERSE 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him (Al rm,aYOw: hl'y>L'h; ~Alx]B; %l,m,ybia]-la, ~yhil{a/ aboY"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. bo come + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + prep el to + proper noun Abimelech + prep beth w/def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. chalom dream + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff.]),

"Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married (l[;B' tl;[uB. awhiw> T'x.q;l'-rv,a] hV'aih'-l[; tme ^N>hi [interj hinneh behold + Qal part.m.s.abs. muth die; "dead man" + prep al + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ishshah woman + rel.pro. asher which, whom + Qal perf.2m.s. laqach take + waw w/pro.f.s. hi she + Qal pass.part.f.s.abs. ba-al own, marry + noun m.s.abs. ba-al owner, husband])."

VERSE 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless (groh]T; qyDIc;-~G: yAgh] yn"doa] rm;aYOw: h'yl,ae br;q' al{ %l,m,ybia]w: [waw w/proper noun Abimelech + neg lo + Qal perf.3m.s. qarabh come near + prep el w/3f.s.suff. "her" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun adon Lord + interrog. ha w/noun m.s.abs. goi nation + part gam even + adj.m.s.abs. tsadiq righteous; "blameless" + Qal impf.2m.s. haragh kill, murder, slay; cf. 4:8])?

VERSE 5 "Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister' (awhi ytixoa] yli-rm;a' aWh al{h] [interrog. ha w/neg lo + pro.3m.s. hu he + Qal perf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "to me" + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. achoth sister + pro.3f.s. hi she])?

And she herself said, 'He is my brother (aWh yxia' hr'm.a' awhi-~g:-ayhiw> [waw w/pro.3f.s. hi she + conj gam even, also + pro.3f.s. hi she + Qal perf.3f.s. amar say + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ach brother + pro.3m.s. hu he]).'

In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this (tazO ytiyfi[' yP;K; !yOq.nIb.W ybib'l.-~t'B. [prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. tom integrity + noun m.s.constr. w/1s.suff. lebh heart + waw w/prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. niqqayon innoceny + Qal perf.1s. ashah do + adj.f.s.abs. zoth])."

VERSE 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this (taZO t'yfi[' ^b.b'l.-~t'b. yKi yTi[.d;y" ykinOa' ~G: ~l{x]B; ~yhil{a/h' wyl'ae rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. chalom dream + conj gam also + pro.1s. anoki I + Qal perf.1s. yada know + part ki that + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. tom integrity + noun m.s.constr. lebh heart + Qal perf.2m.s. ashah do + adj.f.s.abs. zoth this], and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her [h'yl,ae [;GOn>li ^yTit;n>-al{ !Ke-l[; yli-Ajx]m ^t.Aa ykinOa'-~G: %fox.a,w" [waw w/Qal impf.1s. chashak restrain, keep from + conj gam + pro.1s. anoki I + d.o. marker + prep min w/Qal infin.constr. chatta sin + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "against Me" + prep al w/adv ken = "therefore" + neg lo + Qal perf.1s.w/2m.s.suff. nathan give + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. naga touch + prep el w/3f.s.suff. "her"]).

VERSE 7 "Now therefore, restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live (hyEx.w< ^d>[;B; lLeP;t.yIw> aWh aybin"-yKi vyaih'-tv,ae bveh' hT'[;w> [waw w/adv attah now + Hiphil imperf.m.s. shub return + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. ish man + part ki for + noun m.s.abs. nabi prophet + pro.3m.s. hu he + waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. palal pray + part. ba-ar w/2m.s.suff. on behalf of + waw w/Qal imper.m.s. chayah live]).

But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours (%l'-rv,a]-lk'w> hT'a; tWmT' tAm-yKi [D; byvime ^n>yae-~aiw> [waw w/part im if + adv ayin not + Hiphil part.m.s.abs. shub return + Qal imper.m.s. yada know + part ki that + Qal infin.constr. muth die + Qal imperf.2m.s. muth die + pro.2m.s. atten you + waw w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + rel.pro. asher who + prep lamedh w/2f.s.suff.])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 3-7

1. After the sparse opening scene, the narrative suddenly expands as Abimelech’s dream is recounted.
2. This part of the incident takes the form of a trial.
3. The indictment (v. 3); Abimelech’s defense (vv. 4-5); the sentence (vv. 6-7).
4. The night dream began with the frightening words: "Behold, you are about to die."
5. The idea being, "you are as good as dead."
6. The phraseology (interjection plus participle muth) is a straightforward prediction.
7. When these words were uttered Abimelech was ill, and his life hung in the balances, because he was on the verge of committing adultery, and not just the usual variety of adultery but he posed a threat to the entire plan of salvation, albeit unbeknownst to him.
8. Following what turns out to be a conditional prophecy, Abimelech is informed as to the reason for the death sentence.
9. The phrase "she is married" is literally "she is owned by an owner."
10. The only other use of this phrase in the OT is Deut. 22:22: "If a man is found lying with a married woman, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall purge the evil from Israel."
11. In this phrase the wife is seen as the sacred property of the husband.
12. She is also his alter ego and one flesh with him (cf. 2:18-24).
13. She is at least her husband’s most precious possession, and to take her is the worst kind of theft.
14. The narrator adds the important note that "Abimelech had not come near her" as the law demands proof that a man has lain with someone else’s wife for death to be administered and it prepares the reader for Abimelech’s plea for mercy (cf. Abraham’s intercession in chap 19).
15. Abimelech uses the general term of deference in referring to deity ("Lord").
16. The mention of "nation" here is unexpected in the words "will You slay a nation, even though blameless?" but Abimelech takes in for granted that the sin(s) of a leader can bring judgment on the entire populace and not just their leader.
17. This idea is expressed in vv. 7, 8, 9.
18. In v. 5 Abimelech does not deny his action but claims that he was mislead and acted in total ignorance of the true situation.
19. Both Abraham and Sarah said they were brother and sister.
20. He therefore acted with sincerity and innocence.
21. He claims that in both thought and action he was without guilt.
22. The divine reply repeats verbatim part of Abimelech’s speech and so confirms his sincerity.
23. But God goes on to add something that was not in Abimelech’s frame of reference, nor could it have been, and that is seen in the words "I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore you did not touch her."
24. Both divine omniscience and omnipotence are feature in the exoneration of Abimelech and the protection of Sarah and the plan of salvation.
25. God also protected an otherwise innocent man from sinning against Him.
26. Had Abimelech had relations with Sarah he would have sinned even though he was oblivious to the circumstances.
27. God protected the integrity of His plan even though Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech posed a threat to the promise of an heir.
28. How God prevented Abimelech from approaching Sarah is not at this point in the episode made known to the reader.
29. Abimelech knew how God had prevented him from having sexual relations with Sarah.
30. The real test of Abimelech’s sincerity is the return of Sarah.
31. If that’s done then he is told to request intercessory prayer from Abraham so that he might not die (e.g., recover from his illness; v. 7; ).
32. Two things were required of him: (1) return Sarah to her husband; and (2) request prayer from Abraham.
33. Failure to restore her means death for the king and his subjects!
34. Abraham was a prophet who could intercede for others in the same class as Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah, and Amos (e.g. Num. 11:2; 21:7; Deut. 9:20; Jer. 7:16; 11:14).
35. Job (42:8) was told to pray for the three friends who sinned against him.
36. "You shall live" confirms the supposition that Abimelech was sick, eventually said in v. 17, and this illness explains why he did not approach Sarah during the time she was in his harem.
37. "You and all yours will certainly die" (cf. 2:17 same phraseology) is God’s final word to Abimelech.
38. Abimelech had stepped into something he knew nothing about, but was granted mercy to live on and save himself and his entire kingdom.
39. God would have wiped out an entire nation of people if their king did not restore Sarah immediately.
40. God would preserve the integrity of His plan one way or the other.

Abimelech’s Prompt Response (vv. 8-10)

VERSE 8 So Abimelech arose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened (daom. ~yvin"a]h' War>yYIw: ~h,ynEz>a'B. hL,aeh' ~yrIb'D>h;-lK'-ta, rBed;y>w: wyd'b'[]-lk'l. ar'q.YIw: rq,BoB; %l,m,ybia] ~Kev.Y:w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. shakam rise early + proper noun Abimelech + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. boqer morning + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qara call + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ebedh servant + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. dabar speak + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. dabar word, thing + def.art.w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + prep beth w/noun fem. Dual constr.w/3m.p.suff. ozen ear; "hearing" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. yara fear + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. ish + adv me-odh "very much"]).

VERSE 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us (WnL' t'yfi['-hm, Al rm,aYOw: ~h'r'b.a;l. %l,m,ybia] ar'q.YIw [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qara call + proper noun Abimelech + prep lamedh w/proper noun Abraham + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + interrog mah what? + Qal perf.2m.s. ashah do + prep lamedh w/1p.suff. "to us"])?

And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin (hl'dog> ha'j'x] yTik.l;m.m;-l[;w> yl;[' t'abehe-yKi %l' ytiaj'x'-hm,W [waw w/interrog mah what? + Qal perf.1s. chatta sin + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. "against you" + part ki that + Hiphil perf.2m.s. bo bring + prep al w/3m.s.suff. "on me" + waw w/prep al + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. mamelakhah kingdom + noun f.s.abs. chata-ah sin + adj.f.s.abs. gadol great])?

You have done to me things that ought not to be done (ydIM'[i t'yfi[' Wf['yE-al{ rv,a] ~yfi[]m [noun m.p.abs. ma-aseh deed; "things" + rel.pro. asher + neg lo + Niphal impf.3m.p. ashah do + Qal perf.2m.s. ashah do + part immadh w/1s.suff. "to me"])."

VERSE 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What have you encountered, that you have done this thing (hZ<h; rb'D'h;-ta, t'yfi[' yKi t'yair' hm' ~h'r'b.a;-la, %l,m,ybia] rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Abimelech + prep el to + proper noun Abraham + interrog mah what? + Qal perf.2m.s. ra-ah see; "encountered" + part ki that + Qal perf.2m.s. ashah do + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. dabar word; thing + def.art.w/adj.m.s. zeh this])?"

ANALYSIS: VERSES 8-10

1. The central scene shows Abimelech summoning a royal council to deal with this matter.
2. He does this promptly ("early in the morning").
3. The impact on his subjects: "and the men were very afraid."
4. So much for Abraham’s concern that there was no fear of God in Gerar (v.11).
5. The dialogue between Abraham and Abimelech starts off similar to the Pharaoh’s speech in 12:18-19.
6. Both said, "What have you done?" echoing 3:13.
7. But from this point forward the speeches and actions diverge markedly.
8. Pharaoh places all the blame on Abraham, Abimelech admits he is partly to blame.
9. Pharaoh gave Abraham no chance to respond; Abimelech does.
10. Pharaoh expelled Abraham from Egypt immediately; Abimelech lets Abraham stay and offers him the pick of the land to graze his livestock.
11. This story paints a sympathetic portrait of Abimelech.
12. Abimelech speech is a mixture of moral indignation along with a sense of shock.
13. V. 9 contain two rhetorical questions and a statement of fundamental moral principle.
14. We have "What have you done to us?" and "How have I sinned against you?"
15. Pharaoh was concerned only for himself while Abimelech is worried about his people, a point reinforced by "you have brought upon me and my kingdom a great sin."
16. Abimelech is concerned about his people’s welfare a mark of a good ruler.
17. Abimelech suggests that he must have acted very badly to provoke Abraham to make him fall into a "great sin."
18. This is compared to Pharaoh’s colorless "I took her."
19. Abimelech’s "great sin" and "deeds that ought not to be done" highlight moral concern; something absent from Pharaoh’s rebuke.
20. In v. 10 Abimelech who holds the moral high ground invites Abraham to provide an explanation for his actions.
21. Hence the words "What have you encountered/seen, that you have done this thing?"
22. "It is no common sign of a just and meek disposition in Abimelech, that he allows Abraham’s free defense. We know how sharply, and fiercely, they postulate, who think themselves aggrieved; so much greater praise, then, was due to the moderation of this king, towards an unknown foreigner" (John Calivn).

Abraham’s Reply (vv. 11-13)

VERSE 11 Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife (yTiv.ai rb;D>-l[; ynIWgr'h]w: hZ<h; ~AqM'B; ~yhil{a/ ta;r>yI-!yae qr; yTir>m;a' yKi ~h'r'b.a; rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Abraham + part ki because + Qal perf.1s. amar say; "I thought" + adv raq surely + adv ayin no + noun f.s.constr. yare fear + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. makom place + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. zeh this + waw w/Qal perf.3pw/1s.suff. haragh kill, murder + prep al + noun m.s.constr. dabar word, thing + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ishshah wife]).

VERSE 12 "Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife (hV'ail. yli-yhiT.w: yMiai-tb; al{ %a; awhi ybia'-tb; ytixoa] hn"m.a'-~g:w> [waw w/conj gam + adv amenah truly + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. achoth sister + noun f.s.abs. bath daughter + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father + pro.3f.s. hi she + adv ak but + neg lo + noun f.s.abs. bath daughter + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. em mother + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. hayah be + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "my" + prep lamedh w/noun f.s.abs. ishshah wife]);

VERSE 13 and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her (Hl' rm;aow" ybia' tyBemi ~yhil{a/ ytiao W[t.hi rv,a]K; yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + prep kaph w/rel.pro. asher + Hiphil perf.3p. ta-ah wander + d.o. marker w/1s.suff. "me" + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + prep min w/noun m.s.constr. bayith house + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father + waw w/Qal impf.1s. amar say + prep lamedh w/3f.s.suff. "to her"], 'This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother [aWh yxia' yli-yrIm.ai hM'v' aAbn" rv,a] ~AqM'h;-lK' la, ydIM'[i yfi[]T; rv,a] %Des.x; hz< [adj.m.s.abs. zeh this + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s.suff. chesed + rel.pro. asher + Qal impf.2f.s. ashah do; "show" + part immadh w/1s.suff. "to me" + prep el to + noun m.s.constr. kol + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. maqom place + rel.pro. asher + Qal impf.1p. bo go + adv sham there + Qal imper.f.s. amar say + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "of me" + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. ach brother + pro.3m.s. hu he])."'"

ANALYSIS: VERSES 11-13

1. Abraham’s reply is roundly criticized by commentators as lame and self-justifying.
2. Actually Abraham says nothing in the reply that is untrue, deceitful or disingenuous.
3. In v.11 he confesses the sin that motivated him to act as he did: fear for his life.
4. He also confesses that he prejudged the kingdom whose territory he entered into.
5. It turns out that he badly misjudged the Philistines of Gerar.
6. There was a healthy fear of God in that place after all.
7. Of course it is all the more surprising that he would give in to fear considering that God had so dramatically delivered him from harm when he was in Egypt.
8. In v. 12 Abraham divulges the whole truth about his wife Sarah.
9. He says that she is his half-sister.
10. Near Eastern law did not regard marriage between close relatives as something of any great concern.
11. Later these types of unions were forbidden by the Mosaic Law.
12. But throughout Genesis marriage between a sister and a brother was not forbidden (e.g. where did Cain get his wife?).
13. Abimelech probably did not regard this union as improper.
14. In v. 13 Abraham tells Abimelech that what he did in Gerar was his general policy: "wherever we go, say for me ‘He is my brother.’
15. Back in 12:12 it is presented as a device, but here we learn that is was the modus operandi wherever they traveled.
16. Obviously this does not make Abraham look good as he appears to be a man of little faith who often tried to save himself by misrepresenting the situation and placing his wife in harm’s way.
17. But this narrow view of the man Abraham would fail miserably to take into account what a great man of faith he actually was in God’s eyes.
18. All Scripture bears witness to his faith (cf. Heb. 11:8-19).
19. In this area he simply imploded and let God clean up the mess!
20. We learn from v. 13 that Sarah was on board with this ploy.
21. Abraham in the briefest of terms tells of his divine call to be a wanderer on the earth.
22. Its up to Abimelech to inquire further, as he was given ample evidence that this couple who placed him and his people so much peril was something to be reckoned with and make further inquiry as part of the fear of God factor.
23. Both Pharaoh and Abimelech were tested volitionally.

Abimelech’s Compensation and Abraham’s Intercession

(vv. 14-18)

VERSE 14 Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him (ATv.ai hr'f' tae Al bv,Y"w: ~h'r'b.a;l. !TeYIw: txop'v.W ~ydIb'[]w: rq'b'W !aco %l,m,ybia] xQ;YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. laqach take + proper noun Abimelech + noun both s.abs. ts-on sheep + waw w/noun m.s.abs. baqar ox + waw w/noun m.p.abs. ebedh servant + waw w/noun f.p.abs. shiphechah maid servant + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. nathan give + prep lamedh w/proper noun Abraham + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. shubh return + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + d.o. marker + proper noun Sarah + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife]).

VERSE 15 Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please (bve ^yn<y[eB. bAJB; ^yn<p'l. ycir>a; hNEhi %l,m,ybia] rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Abimelech + interj hinneh behold + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. eretz land + prep lamedh w/noun both p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. paneh "before you" + def.art.w/prep. beth w/adj.m.s.abs. tobh good + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr.w/2m.s.suff. ayin + Qal imper.m.s. yashab dwell])."

VERSE 16 To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver (%yxia'l. @s,K, @l,a, yTit;n" hNEhi rm;a' hr'f'l.W [waw w/prep lamedh w/proper noun Sarah + Qal perf.3m.s. amar say + interj hinneh behold + Qal perf.1s. nathan give + adj.m.s.abs. eleph thousand + noun m.s.abs. keseph silver + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr.w/2f.s.suff. ach brother]; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared [tx;k'nOw> lKo taew> %T'ai rv,a] lkol. ~yIn:y[e tWsK. %l'-aWh hNEhi [interj hinneh + pro.3m.s. hu it + prep lamedh + noun f.s.constr. kesuth covering; "vindication" + noun f. dual abs. ayin eye + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + rel.pro. asher which + prep eth w/2f.s.suff. "with you" + waw w/prep eth with + noun m.s.abs. kol all + waw w/Niphal part.f.s.abs. yakach decide; "cleared"])."

VERSE 17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children (WdleYEw: wyt'hom.a;w> ATv.ai-ta,w> %l,m,ybia]-ta, ~yhil{a/ aP'r>YIw: ~yhil{a/h'-la, ~h'r'b.a; lLeP;t.YIw: [waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. palal pray + proper noun Abraham + prep el to + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. rapha heal + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + d.o. marker + proper noun Abimelech + waw w/d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + waw w/noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. amah maid-servant + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. yaladh bear]).

VERSE 18 For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife (~h'r'b.a; tv,ae hr'f' rb;D>-l[; %l,m,ybia] tybel. ~x,r,-lK' d[;B. hw"hy> rc;[' rco['-yKi [part ki for + Qal infin.constr. atsar close + Qal perf.3m.s. atsar close + proper noun Yahweh + prep ba-adh on behalf of + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.abs. rechem womb + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.constr. bayith house + proper noun Abimelech + prep al + noun m.s.constr. dabar word + proper noun Sarah + noun f.s.constr. ishshah wife + proper noun Abraham]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 14-18

1. In the first wife-sister episode, Pharaoh gave gifts to Abraham before he found out who Sarah really was (12:16).
2. Here Abimelech gives gifts after he finds out Sarah’s identity.
3. Pharaoh’s gifts are a bridal price, and those of Abimelech are compensation.
4. This procedure is known from Middle Assyrian laws (15^th -12^th centuries B.C.), one of which reads: "If in the case of a seignior’s [man’s] wife one not her father, nor her brother, nor her son, but another person, has caused her to take to the road, but he did not know that she was seignior’s wife, he shall (so) swear and he shall also pay two talents of lead to the woman’s husband."
5. This law involves a man taking an oath and paying damages to the husband when he has taken the wife of another man on a journey.
6. Note that, according to this law, the oath functions only to establish the fact that the man was unaware that the woman who accompanied him was married: "he did not know that she was seignior’s wife, he shall (so) swear."
7. It is not an oath to clear him of any sexual involvement with the woman.
8. Just to take a married woman on a trip without her husband’s consent is a crime.
9. This was the case with Abimelech.
10. He had taken Sarah into his palace knowing she was married, he would have committed a wrong, even if he had not slept with her.
11. Abimelech gives gifts to Abraham to compensate for his inadvertent trespass, but the absence of any oath by Abimelech calls into question whether v. 14 is an actual parallel to the Middle Assyrian law.
12. Abimelech’s further invitation to Abraham to stay and settle in his territory is in marked contrast to the pharaoh who sent Abraham on his way (12:3).
13. For one king the duplicitous Abraham became a persona non grata.
14. For another king he became a persona grata.
15. Of course Abimelech knows that his personal healing and that of his fellow citizens depends on Abraham’s praying for them, and hence Abraham’s goodwill.
16. In addition to all his gifts to Abraham, Abimelech gives a thousand pieces of silver to Abraham’s brother—not husband.
17. The biting irony is hard to miss.
18. This presentation of money is to be a foil (Heb. Kesut enayim, lit., "a covering of the eyes").
19. Likely the expression is used figuratively and is to be connected with the notion of concealing any kind of sexual impropriety.
20. The eyes of any of Sarah’s acquaintances will be blind to any sexual misconduct on her part.
21. Abimelech further absolves Sarah from any wrong in this situation.
22. The 1000 pieces of silver acts as a foil to turn away any suspicion of wrongdoing on the part of Sarah while she was in the king’s house.
23. Abraham intercedes on behalf of Abimelech before God, and as a result fertility is restored to Abimelech, his wife, and slave girls.
24. If the term brother is ironic in Abimelech’s mouth, then here is another instance of irony.
25. Abraham can pray, and as a result barren Philistine women are able to conceive.
26. Yet his own wife has not yet been able to become pregnant.
27. As if to accentuate that irony, even the verb used in v. 18 to describe Yahweh’s closing of the womb’s of Abimelech’s household (atsar) had been used earlier by Sarah herself and her own infertility (16:2).
28. The Philistine women had their fertility restored.
29. What about Sarah’s?
30. Throughout most of this chapter (thru v. 16) Abimelech appears to be the exemplary character; by contrast, Abraham’s character is unappealing.
31. He first deceived Abimelech, then exposes his ‘Achilles heal’ to Abimelech (vv. 11-13).
32. The king denounces Abraham’s behavior, offers settlement privileges, and makes a generous payment to both Abraham and Sarah.
33. Suddenly, the roles are reversed, and Abraham takes the high ground.
34. Abimelech is under the judgment of God, as was Pharaoh in chap. 12.
35. Note the parting shot he takes when he says "I have given your brother…" and not, "I have given your husband.
36. He clearly resents the deadly peril Abraham put upon his kingdom.
37. The final scene (vv. 17-18) in this episode relates to the resolution of the whole affair and clarifies some points that the initial exposition had left obscure.
38. Vv. 1-2 give no indication of the span of time involved, but because of the brevity of the narrative, it is easy to suppose that settling in Gerar, Sarah’s abduction, and the dream all occurred in quick succession.
39. Vv. 17-18 indicates that this interpretation is wrong.
40. Abimelech had fallen ill right after he took Sarah; and that is why he had not approached her in a sexual manner (v.4).
41. Furthermore, the LORD had closed the wombs of the household so that none of the women in Abimelech’s household could conceive.
42. Was this something that was detected by those living in the palace in the relatively short tome Sarah was in the royal harem?
43. This last-minute revelation cast a cloud over Abimelech’s earlier protestations of innocence.
44. Although he had not actually committed adultery with Sarah, it was only the grace of God (the king’s sudden illness), that he had prevented him from sinning.
45. The only other use of "closed" in Genesis is in 16:2 (atsar) where it is used of Sarah’s inability to conceive.
46. The women in Abimelech’s household were rendered infertile at the point when Sarah was taken by Abimelech.
47. Abimelech’s illness (unspecified) and his wives inability to conceive suggests that Sarah had been a member of Abimelech’s household for several weeks at the very least.
48. The fact that the LORD, "had completely closed every womb in Abimelech’s household" underscores again that Isaac was not conceived during Sarah’s stay at the royal residence (e.g., not Abimelech’s child).
49. She conceived immediately upon being returned to her husband as chap. 21 makes apparent.
50. Men can put the plan of God in jeopardy, but God always intervenes to keep His promises on track.