Gen 20:3-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 20:3-7: 20:3-7 God gave Abimelech a stern warning against committing adultery; it was a capital offense (cp. Exod 20:14 ), viewed throughout the ancient Near East as a “great sin” (Gen 20:9 ). 20:3 that night God came ... in a dream: God urgently intervened to stop Abimelech from violating Sarah’s purity shortly before God’s promise was fulfilled (18:10 ; 21:1-3 ).

a20:3-7►

bExod 20:14►

cGen 20:9►

d20:3►

e18:10►

f21:1-3►

g20:4-5►

h20:6►

iLev 4:13-14►

j18:23-32►

k20:6►

lActs 10►

m20:7►

n20:17-18►

oNum 12:13►

pDeut 9:20►

‏ Genesis 20:3-7

Summary for Gen 20:3-7: 20:3-7 ^a God gave Abimelech a stern warning against committing adultery; it was a capital offense (cp. Exod 20:14 ^b), viewed throughout the ancient Near East as a “great sin” (Gen 20:9 ^c). 20:3 ^d that night God came ... in a dream: God urgently intervened to stop Abimelech from violating Sarah’s purity shortly before God’s promise was fulfilled (18:10 ^e; 21:1-3 ^f).
Summary for Gen 20:4-5: 20:4-5 ^g Abimelech was innocent (20:6 ^h); his conscience was clear. Nonetheless, he was about to commit adultery, and ignorance does not excuse guilt (Lev 4:13-14 ⁱ).

• will you destroy an innocent nation? Abimelech’s appeal to God echoes Abraham’s earlier words (cp. 18:23-32 ^j) and rebukes Abraham’s lack of faith on this occasion.
20:6 ^k Because Abimelech acted with a clear conscience, God kept him from sinning. God will graciously help those who try to do what is right. When people act with reverence toward God, God gives them more revelation and draws them into more specific faith (see Acts 10 ^l).
20:7 ^m Abraham’s prayer saved the king’s life and restored his family (20:17-18 ⁿ). Abimelech learned that Abraham’s God was sovereign, and that Abraham, God’s prophet, had received God’s revelation and would intercede for others (see Num 12:13 ^o; Deut 9:20 ^p), even if he did not always live up to the office.