said. Abraham's expedient = the next assault on Abraham in the Great Conflict for the destruction of the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15 ). See App-23 . God had to intervene (Genesis 20:3 ), for man could know nothing of it. Abraham's fear shown in Genesis 20:11 .
my sister = half-sister. See note on Genesis 20:12 and App-29 .
Abimelech. Hebrew. Father-king. The official title of the kings of Gerar (Compare Genesis 26:1 ), like Pharaoh in Egypt.
took. See note on Genesis 21:7 . In Sarah's conception God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac (Genesis 21:7 ).
LORD* = Jehovah. One of the 134 emendations of the Sopherim. See App-32 .
also, i.e. as well as Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19 .
nation. Abimelech evidently expected God to slay the whole nation.
I also withheld. Divine intervention needed. Compare Genesis 20:2 . Note the emphatic pronouns. See App-23 .
sinning. See App-44 .
touch. Here is the Hebrew word naga = touch, used in a clear understandable sense as it is used in Genesis 3:3 , "neither shall ye touch it". See note on Genesis 3:3 .
prophet. First occ, showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning = God's spokesman. Here, it is prayer (compare Exodus 4:16 with Exodus 7:1 ), and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing (1 Corinthians 11:5 ).
What. Figure of speech Aganactesis.
sin. Hebrew. chat'a. See App-44 .
sawest thou = hadst thou seen.
thought. Hebrew. said : i.e. said [to myself ].
slay me. Showing how his fears were worked upon by the enemy. See Genesis 20:2 .
sister. The daughter of Terah by another wife (than Abraham's mother): therefore, Abraham's half-sister. See App-29 .
caused. The verb is in the plural. kindness. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). Kindness put for the kind deeds caused by it.
and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .
brother. Figure of speech Irony.
covering, &c. Figure of speech Periphrasis. App-6 . Having called Abraham her "brother", he uses this beautiful Figure for her husband. Compare Genesis 24:65 . 1 Corinthians 11:5 , &c.
reproved, i.e. by the Irony.
south = the Negeb. See Genesis 12:9 ; Genesis 13:1 .
said. Abraham's expedient = the next assault on Abraham in the Great Conflict for the destruction of the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15 ). See App-23 . God had to intervene (Genesis 20:3 ), for man could know nothing of it. Abraham's fear shown in Genesis 20:11 .
my sister = half-sister. See note on Genesis 20:12 and App-29 .
Abimelech. Hebrew. Father-king. The official title of the kings of Gerar (Compare Genesis 26:1 ), like Pharaoh in Egypt.
took. See note on Genesis 21:7 . In Sarah's conception God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac (Genesis 21:7 ).
dream. 20 recorded in Scripture (see App-10 ). Genesis 20:3 ; Genesis 28:12 ; Genesis 31:10 , Genesis 31:24 ; Genesis 37:5 , Genesis 37:9 ; Genesis 40:5 , Genesis 40:6 ; Genesis 41:1 , Genesis 41:5 , Genesis 41:5 .Judges 7:13 . 1 Kings 3:5 .Daniel 2:3 ; Daniel 4:5 ; Daniel 7:1 .Matthew 1:20 ; Matthew 2:12 , Matthew 2:13 , Matthew 2:19 ; Matthew 27:19 .
man . . . for. Figure of speech Aposiopesis, or "sudden silence". We must supply "If thou dost not restore her"; or "I will slay thee". See verses: Genesis 20:4 and Genesis 20:7 .
LORD* = Jehovah. One of the 134 emendations of the Sopherim. See App-32 .
also, i.e. as well as Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19 .
nation. Abimelech evidently expected God to slay the whole nation.
I also withheld. Divine intervention needed. Compare Genesis 20:2 . Note the emphatic pronouns. See App-23 .
sinning. See App-44 .
touch. Here is the Hebrew word naga = touch, used in a clear understandable sense as it is used in Genesis 3:3 , "neither shall ye touch it". See note on Genesis 3:3 .
prophet. First occ, showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning = God's spokesman. Here, it is prayer (compare Exodus 4:16 with Exodus 7:1 ), and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing (1 Corinthians 11:5 ).
What. Figure of speech Aganactesis.
sin. Hebrew. chat'a. See App-44 .
sawest thou = hadst thou seen.
thought. Hebrew. said : i.e. said [to myself ].
slay me. Showing how his fears were worked upon by the enemy. See Genesis 20:2 .
sister. The daughter of Terah by another wife (than Abraham's mother): therefore, Abraham's half-sister. See App-29 .
caused. The verb is in the plural. kindness. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). Kindness put for the kind deeds caused by it.
and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .
brother. Figure of speech Irony.
covering, &c. Figure of speech Periphrasis. App-6 . Having called Abraham her "brother", he uses this beautiful Figure for her husband. Compare Genesis 24:65 . 1 Corinthians 11:5 , &c.
reproved, i.e. by the Irony.