DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum 2013 October 31
Abraham Receives Sarah from King Abimelech (1665-1670)
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Location Unknown
Image Source: Free Christ Images
Explanation: Genesis 20 depicts an event in Abraham's life which happened after the destruction of Sodom. Abraham went to Gerar where King Abimelech took Sarah as a wife because Abraham told him she was his sister (1-2), echoing a previous incident in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) and foreshadowing a similar event in the life of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:6-11). But God appeared to Abimelech and warned him to give her back to Abraham on penalty of death (3). Abimelech pleaded his innocence because he had not consummated the relationship and because he had been deceived about her eligibility (4-5). God acknowledged his innocence and told him to release her to Abraham who was a prophet and would pray for him (6-7). Early the next morning Abimelech told his servants about these things and rebuked Abraham (8-10). Abraham defended his actions on the basis that he thought Abimelech and his people did not fear God and would kill him to have Sarah; also, he explained that she was his half-sister, and that they had agreed to tell this same story wherever they went for the sake of safety (11-13). So Abimelech gave Abraham gifts and restored Sarah, telling them to go dwell wherever they pleased in his realm and reproving Sarah for her deceit (14-17). Then God healed Abimelech and his people of their sterility (18).
Genesis 20
1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
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.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
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