Knowing The Word in Genesis 20:8-18, Abimelech has a New Plan

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid [sincere fear of the Lord]. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin [an Ancient Near East description of adultery]? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” [He is worried about his kingdom and his subjects, not just himself.] 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” [He wants to know what actions provoked Abraham’s ploy against him?] 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place [the evidence suggests the opposite], and they will kill me because of my wife.’ [Divine blessing has followed Abraham since 12:1-3. Why does he continue not to trust in God’s protection?] 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. [The reader learns something new. Later biblical law forbids such a union.] 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” [Abraham’s excuse is pathetic, demonstrating yet again why we need a savior.]

14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” [He responds generously as did Pharaoh, yet unlike Pharaoh he asks Abraham to stay.] 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” [This is an enormous sum of money like a bride’s price. Even though his proposal of marriage has failed, Abimelech maintains his reputation.] 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. [That there are conception problems for all the wives suggest that Sarah was there for some time before the king’s dream. It also reminds us of Sarah’s own problem while establishing God as the one who controls procreation, setting up the next event in the life of Abraham and Sarah.]