The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 332

dylnr, t/101~ shale die (cf, eh. iL 17)-tho11, (Josephus, Augustine, Jerome, Jona\h,rn). and all that rtrc thine. That she was Ternh's niece, being a brother's Ver, 8. -Therefore Abimelech rose early daughter adopted by hiin, has received soma in the morniug,-nn evidence of the terror support (Calvin); bnt there seems no reason into which he l1nd been coat by the Divine for departing from the statement c f the text, commnnicntion, and of his earnest desire that she was her husband's half-sister, i. e. to cnn-y out the Divine instnictions-and Terah's daughter by another wife than A bra- called all his servants, and told all these ham's mother (Rosenmiiller, Kalisch, Keil, things in their ears :-confessed his fault, Knobel). And she became my wife. explained his danger, and affirmed his in- Ver. 13.-And it came to pass, when God tention to repair his error ; a proof of the ea.need me to wander (or to go on pilgrim- humility of this God-fearing king (Langel- ages) from my father's house, - Elohim, and the men were sore afraid. It spoke usually construed with a singular verb, is well for the king's household that they re- here joined with a verb in the plural, as an ceived the communication with seriousness. accommodation to the polytheistic stand- Ver. 9.-Then Abimelech called Abraham, point of Abimelech (Keil), as a proof that a.nd ea.id unto him (in the presence of his Elohim is to be viewed e.s e. Plurali3 ftfajes- people), What hast thou done unto ue 1 taticus (Kalisch), as referring tn the plurality -identifying himself once more with hill of Divine manifestations which Abraham had people, as he had already done in responding received (Lange), as showing that Elohim to God (ver. 4)-and what have I offended here signifies angels (Calvin), or, most likely, thee (thus modestly allowing that he may as an instance of the literal meaning of the himself have unwittingly occasioned the sin term as the supernatural powers (:\Inrphy). of Abraham), that thou hast brought on me Cf. eh. xxxv. 7; Exod. xxii. 8; 2 Sam. ,ii. and on my kingdom a great sin 1 The 23; Ps. ]\;ii, 12-that I ae.id unto her, w-avamen of Abimelech's accusation was that This is thy kindness which thou shalt show Abraham had led him and his to offend nnto me. The third plea. which the patriarch against God, and so to lay themselves open presented for his conduct, it had no special to the penalties of wrong-doing. Thou hast reference to Abimelech, bnt was the result done deeds uuto me that ought not to be of e.n old compact formed between himselt' done. Literally, deeds which <mght not to and Sarah. At every place whither we shnll be done thou hast done with me (cf. eh. come, sa.y of me, He is my brother (cf. eh. x.uiv. 7 ; Levit. iv. 2, 13; vide mass, xii. 13). 'Philol. T:-act., 1. iii. t. iii. c. vi. ). The Ver. 14. -And Abimelech-as Phnraoh did king's words were unquestionably designed (eh. xii. 16), but ,vith a. different motive- to convey n severe reproach. took sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and Ver. 10.-And Abimelech said unto Abra- women-servants. The LXX. nnd Samaritan ham, What sawest thou,-either, What hadst insert" a thousand didrachmn.s" after" took," thou in view 1 (Knobel, Delitzsch, Keil, in order to include Sarah's present mentioneu Murphy, et alii), or, What didst thou see I in ver. 16 ; but the two donations are scpar• Didst thou see any of my people taking ated in order to distinguish them as Abra- the wives of strangers and murdering their ham's gift o.nd SRrah's respectively (Rosen- hu~bnnds I (Rosenmiiller, 'Speaker's Com- miiller, Delitzsch), or the sum of money may mentary ')-that thou ha.at done this thing 1 indicl\te the value of the sheep and oxen, Ver. 11.-And Abraham sa.id (offering as &c. which Abraham receh·ed (Keil, Knobel, liis first apology for his sinful behaviour the Lange, 'Speaker's Commentary'). And gaVll fear which he entertained of the depravity of them unto Abraham. To propitiate his the people), Beca.nse I thought,-literally, favour for the wrong he hnd suffered. .,aid (sc. in my heart)-Surely the fear of Pharaoh's girts were '' for the sake of Sarah" God is not in this place ;-otherwise, there (eh. xii. 16). And restored him Sarah his is not any fear of God, j:)1 having usua.J.ly 11 wife. confirmin" sense with rererence to whnt Ver. 15. -And Abimelech aaid, Behold, follows (cf. Dent. iv. 6; 1 Kings xiv. 8; vide my land is before thee : dwell where it Ccsenillll, p. 779)-and they will slay:me for pleaseth thee. Literally, in the qood in my wife's sa.ke. thine eyes; the generous Philistine offoriug Ver. 12.-And yet indeed she is my sister. him a settlement within his borders, whereas This wns the second of the patriarch's ex- the Egyptian monarch hastened his departure tenuating pleas, that lie had not exnctly lied, from the country (eh. xii. 20 ). having uttered at least a half-truth. She is Ver. 16.-And unto Sarah he said, Behold, the daughter of my father ('l'erah), but not I have given thy brother a thousand pieces the daughter of my mother. That Snroh of silver. Literally, a thousand of silver, was the grand-daughter of Teroh, i. e. the the exact weight of each piece being uncertain. <laughter of He.rnn, and sister of Lot, in H sacred shekels (Cesenius, Keil, Kalisch) :1ther words, lscah, has been maintained their value would be over £130, if shekalll 266 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [en. xx. 1-18.