Genesis 20, Abraham and Abimelech

Read chapter 20 carefully. It is not long, but there are some very interesting points in it.

Until I read it again tonight, I had always thought that Abraham did not learn from the trip to Egypt when he called Sarah his sister, and in effect lied to the Pharaoh. But look at verse 13. That story was one Abraham had asked Sarah to support "everywhere we go." This, then, is a continuation, not a new thing.

When did this happen? the King James starts chapter 20 with "And..." and the NIV with "Now..." Both are indicating that the events of chapter 20 follow immediately after the destruction of Sodom and the cities of the plain. The first sentence of chapter 20, in fact, indicates that Abraham moved AWAY from the area of destruction. Considering the devastation he had just witnessed, that is quite understandable.

One question in my mind, though, is why did he not search out Lot to see if he was still alive? Did he presume Lot was dead? Had he and Lot had a falling out? Did he look for Lot and not find him? Considering that he risked death in chasing the armies to rescue Lot before, this seems a puzzle to me.

At any rate, Sarah is now 89 years old, and still beautiful enough and attractive enough for someone to want her for either a wife or concubine! That is incredible! It says a lot about the genetic damage that has happened through time to us, I think.

Here is another interesting note: When God tells Abimelech he is as good as dead because of Sarah, Abimelech responds, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent NATION?" The emphasis is mine. The king was the nation. As the head is the ruler of the body and when the head is gone the body dies, so it was considered that the identity of the nation was tied with that of the king. What is even more interesting is that Sarah must have been in Abimelech's household for some time, because the last line of the chapter indicates that every woman in Abimelech's household had been unable to conceive because of her. This would not be known if Sarah had only been there a week or two! So maybe a couple of months? And this immediately follows the destruction of Sodom, the day before which she had been told she would have a son in a year.

So the way it seems is that either Sarah was already pregnant when she was taken into Abimelech's household or she became pregnant immediately after being reunited with Abraham, as it takes nine months for a baby!

Just some thoughts bubbling in my mental mudpots.

At any rate, Abimelech was not at all happy with the situation, returned Sarah with gifts to cover the situation, and declares her completely vindicated.

Incredible to still be that beautiful at 89...

 

Really good point! OF COURSE Abimelech would have known about the cities of the plain! However, would he have connected Abraham with it?
Don't you wish you could dig into the minds of some of these people?