Genesis 20:4

Genesis 20:4

But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

a. NLT: But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

b. NIV: Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

c. YLT: And Abimelech hath not drawn near unto her, and he saith, 'Lord, also a righteous nation dost thou slay?

d. Amplified Bible: But Abimelech had not come near her, so he said, Lord, will you slay a people who are just and innocent?

e. Septuagint: But Abimelech had not touched her, and he said, Lord, wilt thou destroy an ignorantly [sinning] and just nation?

f. Stone Edition Chumash: Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, “O my Lord, will You slay a nation even though it is righteous?”

1. “But Abimelech had not come near her…”

a. Abimelech [40 * ‘Abiymelek] [Strong: from 1 and 4428; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites:--Abimelech.]

b. had not come near her [7126 * qarab] [Strong: a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose:--(cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (forth, near), (cause to) come (near, nigh), (cause to) draw near (nigh), go (near), be at hand, join, be near, offer, present, produce, make ready, stand, take.]

The amount of time that passed in the whole ordeal beginning at the taking of Sarah until her release is not given in the Scriptures. Needless to say enough time passed that according to the text , Abimelech and all the females in his clan were affected by some sort of malady in their reproductive processes.

1). Genesis 20:17, 18 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

2. “…and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?”

a. he said [559 * ‘amar] [Strong: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

b. Lord [136 * ‘Adonay] [Strong: emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only):--(my) Lord.]

c. wilt thou slay [2026 * harag] [Strong: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), X surely.]

d. a righteous [6662 * tsaddiyq] [Strong: from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).]

e. righteous [6662 * tsaddiyq][BLB: just, lawful, righteous, just, righteous (in government), just, right (in one's cause), just, righteous (in conduct and character), righteous (as justified and vindicated by God), right, correct, lawful).

f. nation [1471 * gowy] [Strong: apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

1). The reason I believe Abimelech asked this question is because it was well known what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, the unrighteous were destroyed because of their wickedness. The word “also” is not in the text but was added by the translators.

2). We must also note here that righteous is not used here in the same sense as it is in the New Testament. In the New Covenant it is used as right standing with God, that is not what is meant here. Also Abraham did not share Abimelech’s opinion of the people of Gerar because when asked why he attempted to deceive Abraham’s response was not in agreement with Abimelech.

a)      Genesis 20:10, 11 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

20:11 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.

3). Years later when Isaac began to dwell in the same place he played the same trick as his father, lying that Rebekah was his sister. Obviously he did not feel Abimelech (probably a title similar to Pharoah), ruled a righteous nation.

a). Genesis 26:6, 7 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:

26:7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.