Genesis 20:10 - Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
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What does "Genesis 20:10" mean?
This verse, Genesis 20:10, is part of a larger narrative where Abraham has moved to Gerar and, fearing for his life, tells Abimelech, the king of Gerar, that his wife Sarah is his sister. Abimelech then takes Sarah into his harem, believing she's unmarried. God then appears to Abimelech in a dream and warns him that he will die because Sarah is married.
Understanding Genesis 20:10 within this context:
Abimelech is confronting Abraham: He is upset and confused about why Abraham deceived him.
"What did you see?" This is the core of the question. Abimelech is asking Abraham what made him think he needed to lie. What threat did Abraham perceive that made him resort to such drastic action? He wants to know the rationale behind Abraham's behavior. This could refer to:
Perceived danger: Did Abraham believe Abimelech was a violent man who would kill him to get Sarah?
A judgement of local morality: Did Abraham think the people of Gerar were immoral and would not respect marriage?
Past experiences: Was Abraham acting based on previous negative experiences in other places?
"That you have done this thing?" Abimelech emphasizes the severity of Abraham's actions. He sees Abraham's lie as a serious offense because:
It put Abimelech and his kingdom in danger of divine punishment.
It created a diplomatic crisis.
It violated the trust that should exist between people.
In essence, Abimelech is demanding an explanation and expressing his outrage. He is asking Abraham why he felt the need to deceive him, and condemning the resulting consequences of that deception.
The question reveals:
Abimelech's sense of justice: He's genuinely offended that Abraham would treat him and his kingdom with such distrust.
Abimelech's fear of God: He understands the potential consequences of unknowingly taking another man's wife.
The broken trust between them: Abraham's lie has damaged their relationship, and Abimelech wants to understand the reason for it.
Genesis 20:10 - Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
What does "Genesis 20:10" mean?
This verse, Genesis 20:10, is part of a larger narrative where Abraham has moved to Gerar and, fearing for his life, tells Abimelech, the king of Gerar, that his wife Sarah is his sister. Abimelech then takes Sarah into his harem, believing she's unmarried. God then appears to Abimelech in a dream and warns him that he will die because Sarah is married.
Understanding Genesis 20:10 within this context:
Abimelech is confronting Abraham: He is upset and confused about why Abraham deceived him.
"What did you see?" This is the core of the question. Abimelech is asking Abraham what made him think he needed to lie. What threat did Abraham perceive that made him resort to such drastic action? He wants to know the rationale behind Abraham's behavior. This could refer to:
Perceived danger: Did Abraham believe Abimelech was a violent man who would kill him to get Sarah?
A judgement of local morality: Did Abraham think the people of Gerar were immoral and would not respect marriage?
Past experiences: Was Abraham acting based on previous negative experiences in other places?
"That you have done this thing?" Abimelech emphasizes the severity of Abraham's actions. He sees Abraham's lie as a serious offense because:
It put Abimelech and his kingdom in danger of divine punishment.
It created a diplomatic crisis.
It violated the trust that should exist between people.
In essence, Abimelech is demanding an explanation and expressing his outrage. He is asking Abraham why he felt the need to deceive him, and condemning the resulting consequences of that deception.
The question reveals:
Abimelech's sense of justice: He's genuinely offended that Abraham would treat him and his kingdom with such distrust.
Abimelech's fear of God: He understands the potential consequences of unknowingly taking another man's wife.
The broken trust between them: Abraham's lie has damaged their relationship, and Abimelech wants to understand the reason for it.