Topical Bible: Dream of Abimelech, , Concerning Sarah

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The Dream of Abimelech concerning Sarah is a significant event recorded in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 20. This narrative highlights themes of divine intervention, the sanctity of marriage, and God's protection over His covenant people.

Context and Background

The event takes place after Abraham and Sarah journey to the region of Gerar. Abraham, fearing for his life due to Sarah's beauty, instructs her to say that she is his sister. This is a half-truth, as Sarah is indeed Abraham's half-sister (Genesis 20:12). Abimelech, the king of Gerar, takes Sarah into his household, believing her to be unmarried.

The Dream

God intervenes by appearing to Abimelech in a dream. The Berean Standard Bible records the encounter as follows: "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, 'You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.'" (Genesis 20:3). This divine revelation is a direct warning to Abimelech, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions, albeit unintentional.

Abimelech's Response

In the dream, Abimelech pleads his innocence, stating that he acted with a clear conscience and clean hands, as he was misled by Abraham and Sarah's claim. God acknowledges Abimelech's integrity and informs him that it was He who prevented Abimelech from sinning against Him by not allowing him to touch Sarah (Genesis 20:4-6).

Divine Instructions

God instructs Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham, identifying Abraham as a prophet who will pray for Abimelech so that he may live. The dream underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the role of Abraham as an intercessor (Genesis 20:7).

Aftermath

Upon waking, Abimelech immediately acts on the divine warning. He summons his officials and informs them of the dream, which instills fear among them. Abimelech then confronts Abraham, questioning his motives for misleading him. Abraham explains his fear of being killed due to Sarah's beauty and their familial relationship (Genesis 20:8-13).

Abimelech restores Sarah to Abraham and compensates him with sheep, cattle, male and female servants, and a thousand pieces of silver as a sign of Sarah's vindication. He also grants Abraham the freedom to settle anywhere in his land (Genesis 20:14-16).

Significance

The Dream of Abimelech concerning Sarah serves as a testament to God's protective hand over His chosen people and the sanctity of marriage. It illustrates God's ability to intervene directly in human affairs to uphold His moral standards and covenant promises. The narrative also highlights the importance of truthfulness and the potential consequences of deception, even when motivated by fear.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are but a dead man, for the woman which you have taken; for she is a man's wife.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning Abimelech; and Concerning Ismael the Son of Abraham ...
... him, he fell asleep, and saw a dream, warning him not ... Whereupon Abimelech assigned
him land and money; and they ... was circumcised at that age; concerning whom I ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 12 concerning abimelech and.htm

Abraham, the Man of Prayer
... promising him a son in his old age, and the wonderful engagements which God made
concerning his promised ... God appeared unto Abimelech in a dream and warned ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bounds/prayer and praying men/iii abraham the man of.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God ...
... in this place spoken in a general manner concerning hindering and ... not the will of
God, that Abimelech should defile ... for Joseph, the sending of a dream, and the ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 9 on the righteousness.htm

Scenes in the Lives of the Patriarchs.
... Abimelech, the king, would have taken her for his ... not God appeared in a dream,
threatening immediate ... He repeated the interrogation concerning his name, then ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/scenes in the lives of.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God
... a sin; for God was unwilling that Abimelech should defile ... efficiency of the providence
of God concerning the Beginning ... Joseph, the sending of a dream, and the ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 10 on the righteousness.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... has many counsels concerning this world and concerning man, and ... Regarding her as
an unmarried woman, Abimelech sent and ... God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

Genesis
... new experiences he was taught in a dream the nearness ... xxi.31, in another, between
Isaac and Abimelech, xxvi.33 ... with Noah, with the law concerning the sacredness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/genesis.htm

Discussion of the Subject of Permission
... forth what I consider the true view concerning permission, in ... Abraham when she was
brought to Abimelech, would have ... For God, in a dream, revealed to him that ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/discussion of the subject of.htm

City of God
... Chapter 16.--Concerning the Philosophers Who Think that the Separation ... by Fire from
Heaven; And of Abimelech, Whose Lust ... Vision Which He Saw in a Dream by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm