“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.”
Abraham had now twice fallen into this fault: such is man’s frailty.
“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. a man's: Heb. married to an husband”
So greatly God detesteth the breach of marriage.
“But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?”
The infidels confessed that God would not punish but for just occasion: therefore, whensoever he punisheth, the occasion is just.
“Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. integrity: or, simplicity, or, sincerity”
Not thinking to do any man harm. As one falling by ignorance, and not doing evil of purpose.
“And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.”
God by his holy Spirit retaineth them that offend by ignorance, that they fall not into greater inconvenience.
“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.”
For the prayer of the godly is of force towards God. That is, one, to whom God revealeth himself familiarly.
“Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.”
The wickedness of the King bringeth God’s wrath upon the whole realm.
“And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.”
He showeth that no honesty can be hoped for, where the fear of God is not.
“And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.”
By sister, he meaneth his cousin germaine, and by daughter, Abraham’s niece, Gen. 11:29 , for so the Hebrews use these words.
“And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.”
Cross references: : Gen. 12:13
“And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.”
Such an head, as with whom thou mayest be preserved from all dangers. God caused this heathen King to reprove her because she dissembled, seeing that God had given her an husband as her veil and defense.
“For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.”
Had taken away from them the gift of conceiving.