mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 20.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xxi" n="xxi" next="Gen.xxii" prev="Gen.xx" progress="15.24%" title="Chapter XX">
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<h2 id="Gen.xxi-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xxi-p0.2">CHAP. XX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xxi-p1">We are here returning to the story of Abraham; yet
that part of it which is here recorded is not to his honour. The
fairest marbles have their flaws, and, while there are spots in the
sun, we must not expect any thing spotless under it. The scripture,
it should be remarked, is impartial in relating the blemishes even
of its most celebrated characters. We have here, I. Abraham's sin
in denying his wife, and Abimelech's sin thereupon in taking her,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.1-Gen.20.2" parsed="|Gen|20|1|20|2" passage="Ge 20:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. God's
discourse with Abimelech in a dream, upon this occasion, wherein he
shows him his error (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.3" parsed="|Gen|20|3|0|0" passage="Ge 20:3">ver.
3</scripRef>), accepts his plea (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.4-Gen.20.6" parsed="|Gen|20|4|20|6" passage="Ge 20:4-6">ver.
4-6</scripRef>), and directs him to make restitution, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.7" parsed="|Gen|20|7|0|0" passage="Ge 20:7">ver. 7</scripRef>. III. Abimelech's discourse
with Abraham, wherein he chides him for the cheat he had put upon
him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.8-Gen.20.10" parsed="|Gen|20|8|20|10" passage="Ge 20:8-10">ver. 8-10</scripRef>), and
Abraham excuses it as well as he can, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.11-Gen.20.13" parsed="|Gen|20|11|20|13" passage="Ge 20:11-13">ver. 11-13</scripRef>. IV. The good issue of the
story, in which Abimelech restores Abraham his wife (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.14-Gen.20.16" parsed="|Gen|20|14|20|16" passage="Ge 20:14-16">ver. 14-16</scripRef>), and Abraham, by
prayer, prevails with God for the removal of the judgment Abimelech
was under, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.17-Gen.20.18" parsed="|Gen|20|17|20|18" passage="Ge 20:17,18">ver. 17,
18</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20" parsed="|Gen|20|0|0|0" passage="Ge 20" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.1-Gen.20.2" parsed="|Gen|20|1|20|2" passage="Ge 20:1-2" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.20.1-Gen.20.2">
<h4 id="Gen.xxi-p1.11">Abraham's Denial of His
Wife. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxi-p1.12">b. c.</span> 1898.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxi-p2">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
<i>is</i> my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took
Sarah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p3">Here is, 1. Abraham's removal from Mamre,
where he had lived nearly twenty years, into the country of the
Philistines: <i>He sojourned in Gerar,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.1" parsed="|Gen|20|1|0|0" passage="Ge 20:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. We are not told upon what
occasion he removed, whether terrified by the destruction of Sodom,
or because the country round was for the present prejudiced by it,
or, as some of the Jewish writers say, because he was grieved at
Lot's incest with his daughters, and the reproach which the
Canaanites cast upon him and his religion, for

<pb id="Gen.xxi-Page_128" n="128"/>

his kinsman's sake: doubtless there was some good
cause for his removal. Note, In a world where we are strangers and
pilgrims we cannot expect to be always in the same place. Again,
Wherever we are, we must look upon ourselves but as sojourners. 2.
His sin in denying his wife, as before (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.12.13" parsed="|Gen|12|13|0|0" passage="Ge 12:13"><i>ch.</i> xii. 13</scripRef>), which was not only in
itself such an equivocation as bordered upon a lie, and which, if
admitted as lawful, would be the ruin of human converse and an
inlet to all falsehood, but was also an exposing of the chastity
and honour of his wife, of which he ought to have been the
protector. But, besides this, it had here a two-fold aggravation:—
(1.) He had been guilty of this same sin before, and had been
reproved for it, and convinced of the folly of the suggestion which
induced him to it; yet he returns to it. Note, It is possible that
a good man may, not only fall into sin, but relapse into the same
sin, through the surprise and strength of temptation and the
infirmity of the flesh. Let backsliders repent then, but not
despair, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.3.22" parsed="|Jer|3|22|0|0" passage="Jer 3:22">Jer. iii. 22</scripRef>. (2.)
Sarah, as it should seem, was now with child of the promised seed,
or, at least, in expectation of being so quickly, according to the
word of God; he ought therefore to have taken particular care of
her now, as <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.13.4" parsed="|Judg|13|4|0|0" passage="Jdg 13:4">Judg. xiii. 4</scripRef>.
3. The peril that Sarah was brought into by this means: <i>The king
of Gerar sent, and took her</i> to his house, in order to the
taking of her to his bed. Note, The sin of one often occasions the
sin of others; he that breaks the hedge of God's commandments opens
a gap to he knows not how many; the beginning of sin is as the
letting forth of water.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.3-Gen.20.7" parsed="|Gen|20|3|20|7" passage="Ge 20:3-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.20.3-Gen.20.7">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxi-p4">3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,
and said to him, Behold, thou <i>art but</i> a dead man, for the
woman which thou hast taken; for she <i>is</i> a man's wife.  
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxi-p4.1">Lord</span>, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
  5 Said he not unto me, She <i>is</i> my sister? and she,
even she herself said, He <i>is</i> 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 <i>his</i> wife; for he <i>is</i> a
prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if
thou restore <i>her</i> not, know thou that thou shalt surely die,
thou, and all that <i>are</i> thine.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p5">It appears by this that God revealed
himself by dreams (which evidenced themselves to be divine and
supernatural) not only to his servants the prophets, but even to
those who were out of the pale of the church and covenant; but
then, usually, it was with some regard to God's own people as in
Pharaoh's dream, to Joseph, in Nebuchadnezzar's, to Daniel, and
here, in Abimelech's, to Abraham and Sarah, for he reproved this
king for their sake, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.105.14-Ps.105.15" parsed="|Ps|105|14|105|15" passage="Ps 105:14,15">Ps. cv. 14,
15</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p6">I. God gives him notice of his danger
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.3" parsed="|Gen|20|3|0|0" passage="Ge 20:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), his danger of
<i>sin,</i> telling him that the woman is a man's wife, so that if
he take her he will wrong her husband; his danger of death for this
sin: <i>Thou art a dead man;</i> and God's saying so of a man makes
him so. Note, Every wilful sinner ought to be told that he is a
dead man, as the condemned malefactor, and the patient whose
disease is mortal, are said to be so. If thou art a bad man,
certainly thou art a dead man.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p7">II. He pleads ignorance that Abraham and
Sarah had agreed to impose upon him, and not to let him know that
they were any more than brother and sister, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.6" parsed="|Gen|20|6|0|0" passage="Ge 20:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. See what confidence a man may
have towards God when his heart condemns him not, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1John.3.21" parsed="|1John|3|21|0|0" passage="1Jo 3:21">1 John iii. 21</scripRef>. If our consciences
witness to our integrity, and that, however we may have been
cheated into a snare, we have not knowingly and wittingly sinned
against God, it will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. He pleads
with God as Abraham had done, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.18.23" parsed="|Gen|18|23|0|0" passage="Ge 18:23"><i>ch.</i> xviii. 23</scripRef>. <i>Wilt thou slay a
righteous nation?</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.4" parsed="|Gen|20|4|0|0" passage="Ge 20:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. Not such a nation as Sodom, which was indeed justly
destroyed, but a nation which, in this matter, was innocent.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p8">III. God gives a very full answer to what
he had said.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p9">1. He allows his plea, and admits that what
he did he did in the integrity of his heart: <i>Yea, I know it,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.6" parsed="|Gen|20|6|0|0" passage="Ge 20:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Note, It is
matter of comfort to those that are honest that God knows their
honesty, and will acknowledge it, though perhaps men that are
prejudiced against them either cannot be convinced of it or will
not own that they are.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p10">2. He lets him know that he was kept from
proceeding in the sin merely by the good hand of God upon him: <i>I
withheld thee from sinning against me.</i> Abimelech was hereby
kept from doing wrong, Abraham from suffering wrong, and Sarah from
both. Note, (1.) There is a great deal of sin devised and designed
that is never executed. As bad as things are in the world, they are
not so bad as the devil and wicked men would have them. (2.) It is
God that restrains men from doing the ill they would do. It is not
from him that there is sin, but it is from him that there is not
more sin, either by his influence upon men's minds, checking their
inclination to sin, or by his providence, taking away the
opportunity to sin. (3.) It is a great mercy to be hindered from
committing sin; of this God must have the glory, whoever is the
instrument, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.25.32-1Sam.25.33" parsed="|1Sam|25|32|25|33" passage="1Sa 25:32,33">1 Sam. xxv. 32,
33</scripRef>.</p>
<pb id="Gen.xxi-Page_129" n="129"/>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p11">3. He charges him to make restitution:
<i>Now therefore,</i> not that thou art better informed, <i>restore
the man his wife,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.7" parsed="|Gen|20|7|0|0" passage="Ge 20:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. Note, Ignorance will excuse no longer than it
continues. If we have entered upon a wrong course through ignorance
this will not excuse our knowingly persisting in it, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.5.3-Lev.5.5" parsed="|Lev|5|3|5|5" passage="Le 5:3-5">Lev. v. 3-5</scripRef>. The reasons why he must
be just and kind to Abraham are, (1.) Because <i>he is a
prophet,</i> near and dear to God, for whom God does in a
particular manner concern himself. God highly resents the injuries
done to his prophets, and takes them as done to himself. (2.) Being
a prophet, <i>he shall pray for thee;</i> this is a prophet's
reward, and a good reward it is. It is intimated that there was
great efficacy in the prayers of a prophet, and that good men
should be ready to help those with their prayers that stand in need
of them, and should make, at least, this return for the kindnesses
that are done them. Abraham was accessory to Abimelech's trouble,
and therefore was obliged in justice to pray for him. (3.) It is at
thy peril if thou do not restore her: <i>Know thou that thou shalt
surely die.</i> Note, He that does wrong, whoever he is, prince or
peasant, shall certainly receive for the wrong which he has done,
unless he repent and make restitution, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Col.3.25" parsed="|Col|3|25|0|0" passage="Col 3:25">Col. iii. 25</scripRef>. No injustice can be made
passable with God, no, not by Caesar's image stamped upon it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxi-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.8-Gen.20.13" parsed="|Gen|20|8|20|13" passage="Ge 20:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.20.8-Gen.20.13">
<h4 id="Gen.xxi-p11.5">Abimelech's Conduct Towards
Abraham. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxi-p11.6">b. c.</span> 1898.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxi-p12">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 <i>is</i> not in this
place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.   12 And yet
indeed <i>she is</i> my sister; she <i>is</i> 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 <i>is</i> thy kindness
which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall
come, say of me, He <i>is</i> my brother.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p13">Abimelech, being thus warned of God in a
dream, takes the warning, and, as one truly afraid of sin and its
consequences, he rises early to obey the directions given him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p14">I. He has a caution for his servants,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.8" parsed="|Gen|20|8|0|0" passage="Ge 20:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Abraham himself
could not be more careful than he was to command his household in
this matter. Note, Those whom God has convinced of sin and danger
ought to tell others what God has done for their souls, that they
also may be awakened and brought to a like holy fear.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p15">II. He has a chiding for Abraham.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p16">1. The serious reproof which Abimelech gave
to Abraham, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.9-Gen.20.10" parsed="|Gen|20|9|20|10" passage="Ge 20:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9,
10</scripRef>. His reasoning with Abraham upon this occasion was
very strong, and yet very mild. Nothing could be said better; he
does not reproach him, nor insult over him, does not say, "Is this
your profession? I see, though you will not swear, you will lie. If
these be prophets, I will beg to be freed from the sight of them:"
but he fairly represents the injury Abraham had done him, and
calmly signifies his resentment of it. (1.) He calls that sin which
he now found he had been in danger of a great sin. Note, Even the
light of nature teaches men that the sin of adultery is a very
great sin: be it observed, to the shame of many who call themselves
Christians, and yet make a light matter of it. (2.) He looks upon
it that both himself and his kingdom would have been exposed to the
wrath of God if he had been guilty of this sin, though ignorantly.
Note, The sins of kings often prove the plagues of kingdoms; rulers
should therefore, for their people's sake, dread sin. (3.) He
charges Abraham with doing that which was not justifiable, in
disowning his marriage. This he speaks of justly, and yet tenderly;
he does not call him a liar and cheat, but tells him he had done
<i>deeds that ought not to be done.</i> Note, Equivocation and
dissimulation, however they may be palliated, are very bad things,
and by no means to be admitted in any case. (4.) He takes it as a
very great injury to himself and his family that Abraham had thus
exposed them to sin: "<i>What have I offended thee?</i> If I had
been thy worst enemy, thou couldst not have done me a worse turn,
nor taken a more effectual course to be revenged on me." Note, We
ought to reckon that those do us the greatest unkindness in the
world that any way tempt us or expose us to sin, though they may
pretend friendship, and offer that which is grateful enough to
corrupt nature. (5.) He challenges him to assign a cause for his
suspecting them as a dangerous people for an honest man to live
among: "<i>What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.10" parsed="|Gen|20|10|0|0" passage="Ge 20:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. What reason
hadst thou to think that if we had known her to be thy wife thou
wouldst have been exposed to any danger by it?" Note, A suspicion
of our goodness is justly reckoned a greater affront than a slight
upon our greatness.</p>
<pb id="Gen.xxi-Page_130" n="130"/>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p17">2. The poor excuse that Abraham made for
himself.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p18">(1.) He pleaded the bad opinion he had of
the place, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.11" parsed="|Gen|20|11|0|0" passage="Ge 20:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. He
thought within himself (though he could not give any good reason
for his thinking so), "<i>Surely the fear of God is not in this
place,</i> and then they will slay me." [1.] Little good is to be
expected where no fear of God is. See <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.36.1" parsed="|Ps|36|1|0|0" passage="Ps 36:1">Ps. xxxvi. 1</scripRef>. [2.] There are many places and
persons that have more of the fear of God in them than we think
they have: perhaps they are not called by our dividing name, they
do not wear our badges, they do not tie themselves to that which we
have an opinion of; and therefore we conclude they have not the
fear of God in their hearts, which is very injurious both of Christ
and Christians, and makes us obnoxious to God's judgment, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.7.1" parsed="|Matt|7|1|0|0" passage="Mt 7:1">Matt. vii. 1</scripRef>. [3.] Uncharitableness and
censoriousness are sins that are the cause of many other sins. When
men have once persuaded themselves concerning such and such that
they have not the fear of God, they think this will justify them in
the most unjust and unchristian practices towards them. Men would
not do ill if they did not first think ill.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p19">(2.) He excused it from the guilt of a
downright lie by making it out that, in a sense, she was his
sister, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.12" parsed="|Gen|20|12|0|0" passage="Ge 20:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Some
think she was own sister to Lot, who is called his <i>brother
Lot</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.14.16" parsed="|Gen|14|16|0|0" passage="Ge 14:16"><i>ch.</i> xiv.
16</scripRef>), though he was <i>his nephew;</i> so Sarah is called
his <i>sister.</i> But those to whom he said, <i>She is my
sister,</i> understood that she was so his sister as not to be
capable of being his wife; so that it was an equivocation, with an
intent to deceive.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p20">(3.) He clears himself from the imputation
of an affront designed to Abimelech in it by alleging that it had
been his practice before, according to an agreement between him and
his wife, when they first became sojourners (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.13" parsed="|Gen|20|13|0|0" passage="Ge 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): "<i>When God caused me to
wander from my father's house,</i> then we settled this matter."
Note, [1.] God is to be acknowledged in all our wanderings. [2.]
Those that travel abroad, and converse much with strangers, as they
have need of the wisdom of the serpent, so it is requisite that
that wisdom be ever tempered with the innocence of the dove. It
may, for aught I know, be suggested that God denied to Abraham and
Sarah the blessing of children so long to punish them for this
sinful compact if they will not own their marriage, why should God
own it? But we may suppose that, after this reproof which Abimelech
gave them, they agreed never to do so again, and then presently we
read (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.21.1-Gen.21.2" parsed="|Gen|21|1|21|2" passage="Ge 21:1,2"><i>ch.</i> xxi. 1,
2</scripRef>) that <i>Sarah conceived.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.14-Gen.20.18" parsed="|Gen|20|14|20|18" passage="Ge 20:14-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.20.14-Gen.20.18">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxi-p21">14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and
menservants, and womenservants, and gave <i>them</i> unto Abraham,
and restored him Sarah his wife.   15 And Abimelech said,
Behold, my land <i>is</i> before thee: dwell where it pleaseth
thee.   16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy
brother a thousand <i>pieces</i> of silver: behold, he <i>is</i> to
thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that <i>are</i> with thee,
and with all <i>other:</i> thus she was reproved.   17 So
Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife,
and his maidservants; and they bare <i>children.</i>   18 For
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxi-p21.1">Lord</span> had fast closed up all the
wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's
wife.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p22">Here is, I. The kindness of a prince which
Abimelech showed to Abraham. See how unjust Abraham's jealousies
were. He fancied that if they knew that Sarah was his wife they
would kill him; but, when they did know it, instead of killing him
they were kind to him, frightened at least to be so by the divine
rebukes they were under. 1. He gives him his royal licence to dwell
where he pleased in his country, courting his stay because he gives
him his royal gifts (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.14" parsed="|Gen|20|14|0|0" passage="Ge 20:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>), <i>sheep and oxen,</i> and (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.16" parsed="|Gen|20|16|0|0" passage="Ge 20:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>) <i>a thousand pieces of
silver.</i> This he gave when he restored Sarah, either, [1.] By
way of satisfaction for the wrong he had offered to do, in taking
her to his house: when the Philistines restored the ark, being
plagued for detaining it, they sent a present with it. The law
appointed that when restitution was made something should be added
to it, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.6.5" parsed="|Lev|6|5|0|0" passage="Le 6:5">Lev. vi. 5</scripRef>. Or, [2.]
To engage Abraham's prayers for him; not as if prayers should be
bought and sold, but we should endeavour to be kind to those of
whose spiritual things we reap, <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.9.11" parsed="|1Cor|9|11|0|0" passage="1Co 9:11">1 Cor.
ix. 11</scripRef>. Note, It is our wisdom to get and keep an
interest with those that have an interest in heaven, and to make
those our friends who are the friends of God. [3.] He gives to
Sarah good instruction, tells her that her husband (her
<i>brother</i> he calls him, to upbraid her with calling him so)
must be to her for <i>a covering of the eyes,</i> that is, she must
look at no other, nor desire to be looked at by any other. Note,
Yoke-fellows must be to each other for a covering of the eyes. The
marriage-covenant is a covenant with the eyes, like Job's,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p22.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.1" parsed="|Job|31|1|0|0" passage="Job 31:1"><i>ch.</i> xxxi. 1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxi-p23">II. The kindness of a prophet which Abraham
showed to Abimelech: he <i>prayed for him,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.17-Gen.20.18" parsed="|Gen|20|17|20|18" passage="Ge 20:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>. This honour God would
put upon Abraham that, though Abimelech had restored Sarah, yet the
judgment he was under should be removed upon the prayer of Abraham,
and not before. Thus God healed Miriam, when Moses, whom she had
most affronted, prayed for her (<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.12.13" parsed="|Num|12|13|0|0" passage="Nu 12:13">Num.
xii. 13</scripRef>), and was reconciled to Job's friends when Job,
whom they had grieved, prayed for them

<pb id="Gen.xxi-Page_131" n="131"/>

(<scripRef id="Gen.xxi-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.42.8-Job.42.10" parsed="|Job|42|8|42|10" passage="Job 42:8-10">Job xlii. 8-10</scripRef>), and so
did, as it were, give it under his hand that he was reconciled to
them. Note, The prayers of good men may be a kindness to great men,
and ought to be valued.</p>
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