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King Abimelech
Becomes Angry at Abraham & Confronts Him About It
What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done. What was your reason for doing this?
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 20:1-18)
Short-Recap
In the last article, we examined how Lot and his daughters fared after the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. At this time, we also learned that Lot's daughters became very concerned about preserving their family bloodline.
Their concern stemmed from the fact that no suitable men were around (that they knew of) after the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had been destroyed. So they came up with a plan that involved getting their father drunk so that they could lay with him to preserve the family line through him possibly:
"One day the older daughter said to the younger: 'Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father.'" -- Genesis 19:31,32
The plan that the daughters of Lot had agreed to enact seemed to be paying off, for they both would get pregnant by their father.
On top of that, they both ended up having sons. The oldest daughter named her son Moab, which signified (of my father).
The younger daughter named her son Ben-Ammi, which signified (the son of my people).
Also, I pointed out that Moab would become the founder of the Moabites.
And when it came to his cousin, Ben-Ammi, he would eventually become the founder of the Ammonites.
I believe that this little bit of information is crucial to know, being that both the Moabites and the Ammonites would eventually become some of Israel's most bitter and hostile enemies:
"After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them." -- (1 Samuel 14:47)
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Abraham Relocates?
Be that as it may, it's time to move forward. The Sacred Record reveals that after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham decided to move away from the region that he'd dwelled in for the last twenty years, simply known as "Mamre." The Sacred Record also informs us that Abraham headed south and ended up dwelling in the desert region of the Negev, which was located somewhere between Kadesh and Shur.
Now, somewhere between his moving and settling in the desert region of the Negev, we find that Abraham had stayed for some time in a Philistine town and district, then known as "Gerar." The Holy Scriptures don't give an exact time frame for how long Abraham had lived there.
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Deja Vu?
But nonetheless, we're now being told about the events that took place during his stay at Gerar. We would soon learn that Abraham had again placed himself (and his wife Sarah) in an uncomfortable and dangerous position just like he had done some time ago with Pharaoh, back when he had first entered Egypt, to avoid and wait out the famine that was wreaking havoc upon the land of Canaan.
Now remember, when Abraham had first entered Egypt, he had a plan at that time when it came to him and his wife trying to survive from within the Egyptian kingdom: "As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, 'I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife." Then they will kill me and let you live.'" - Genesis 12:11,12
Now, when it comes to Abraham's plan at that time, we find him hatching a similar plan right before he enters the Philistine town. Again, Abraham would lie and speak of Sarah as if she were his sister instead of his wife. Just like the Pharaoh had done before, Abimelech, the king of Gerar, also believed this false story that Abraham had told him. Because of this, Abimelech sent for Sarah and took her back to his palace. Also, know that it's at this point that the Holy Scriptures would confirm that Abimelech took Sarah against her will for her to be his wife.
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Not As Detailed
So We Can Only Assume?
Now, when we compare this situation in the Philistine town with the similar ordeal that happened some time ago in Egypt, first, I would like to point out that the Pharaoh was very attracted to Sarah, especially regarding her beauty. But in this case, when it comes to Abimelech, we're not given the same details on why he was attracted to Sarah, so we can only assume that the king was physically attracted to her, just like the Pharaoh was.
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She Doesn't Belong to You Abimelech!
Nonetheless, we now find that later that night, while Abimelech was sleeping, the Lord came and visited him in a dream: "[Abimelech] you are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman," the Lord told the king.
Now understand, Abimelech had not yet touched Sarah. Also, remember that the king did not know she was Abraham's wife. And because of this mishap, Abimelech would plead his case before the Lord:
"Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother?' I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." -- Genesis 20:4,5
After hearing this, the Lord would agree with Abimelech. But He would still warn and instruct the king on what he needed to do next:
"Yes I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I didn't let you touch her. Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die." -- Genesis 20:6,7
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The Judgment?
Although Abimelech had been lied to, he wasn't completely cleared of wrongdoing. There was still a judgment placed on him because, after all, he did take Sarah against her will. So keep in mind that although Abimelech was cleared of taking Sarah as another man's wife, he wasn't cleared for taking Sarah against her will, with the intentions of making her his wife by force.
This is why, in the end, Abraham would have to pray for Abimelech so that the king could be saved from God's judgment. Understand that just because Abraham deceived Abimelech, it did not make him completely innocent of his actions. Plus, God knew the king's true heart, and this is why the Lord told him that if he did not return Sarah immediately, he would surely die along with his entire household.
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Why Abraham?
Why Me?
Early the next morning, after Abimelech had awakened, he summoned all of his royal officials to come before him. It was at this time that the king had told his royal officials about his divine visitation from the Lord and how he'd learned that Abraham had deceived him. And after the king's officials had heard Abimelech's story, they'd become very afraid.
A short while later, Abimelech would call Abraham to come and be before him. And once Abraham had entered his presence, the king asked him: "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done. What was your reason for doing this?"
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Abimelech It Wasn't Personal?
Now after hearing what Abimelech had to say, Abraham responded by saying: "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' Besides she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" -- Genesis 20:11-13
Now, when it comes to Abraham's statement to Abimelech, notice how it would defend what he had done against the king. Abraham wanted Abimelech to know that he did not do any of these things as a personal attack against him. He wanted the king to know that he and his wife Sarah had this understanding and arrangement no matter where they had gone.
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The Taker Becomes the Giver?
So, after hearing this, the king brought sheep and cattle along with male and female servants and gave them to Abraham. Abimelech would also return Sarah back to her rightful place, and he told Abraham: "My land is before you; live wherever you like." Then Abimelech would turn his attention specifically towards Sarah, and he told her, "I'm giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
Now real quick, notice how Abimelech was being sarcastic towards Sarah when he called Abraham her "brother?" : "I'm giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver." For this remark, clearly shows, that Abimelech was still very angry with them even though, at the moment, he's showering Abraham and Sarah with gifts.
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Abraham Intercedes for Abimelech?
Be that as it may. We now find Abraham praying to God on Abimelech's behalf. We find that Abraham is asking the Lord to heal Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they can, once again, have children. Understand that the Lord had made every woman in Abimelech's household barren. And all of this had happened to Abimelech's household because he had taken Abraham's wife, Sarah, against her will.
So once again, we find that the Lord had allowed the wicked to be punished behind Abraham's fear of being killed behind his wife, Sarah. Abraham would once again be spared and blessed by the Almighty God, just like he had been while he was back in Egypt some time ago.
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
Okay, so we now know what had happened to Abraham, when he ran into Abimelech -- while he was relocating from the region of Mamre, after the cites of Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. However, in the next article we begin to move forward, and it's at this time -- we'll get an update, when it comes to the "promise seed" that the Lord had foretold to Abraham and Sarah some time ago.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
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