Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. And Abraham journeyed] It is very likely that this holy man was so deeply affected with the melancholy prospect of the ruined cities, and not knowing what was become of his nephew Lot and his family, that he could no longer bear to dwell within sight of the place. Having, therefore, struck his tents, and sojourned for a short time at Kadesh and Shur, he fixed his habitation in Gerar, which was a city of Arabia Petraea, under a king of the Philistines called Abimelech, my father king, who appears to have been not only the father of his people, but also a righteous man.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Crooked policy will not prosper: it brings ourselves and others int danger. God gives Abimelech notice of his danger of sin, and his dange of death for his sin. Every wilful sinner is a dead man, but Abimelec pleads ignorance. If our consciences witness, that, however we may have been cheated into a snare, we have not knowingly sinned against God, it will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. It is matter of comfort to those who are honest, that God knows their honesty, and wil acknowledge it. It is a great mercy to be hindered from committing sin of this God must have the glory. But if we have ignorantly done wrong that will not excuse us, if we knowingly persist in it. He that doe wrong, whoever he is, prince or peasant, shall certainly receive for the wrong which he has done, unless he repent, and, if possible, make restitution.
Original Hebrew ויסע5265 משׁם8033 אברהם85 ארצה776 הנגב5045 וישׁב3427 בין996 קדשׁ6946 ובין996 שׁור7793 ויגר1481 בגרר׃1642
