Abimelech
Abimelech was a Philistine king who had dealings with both Abraham and Isaac, involving incidents where the patriarchs claimed their wives were their sisters.
The name Abimelech means “father of the king”
MaleKingCanaanPatriarchs eraOld Testament1 book34 verses
Summary
A king in Canaan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Genesis 20:2; only referred to as Abimelech (אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ).
Glossary entries
Alternative names
- אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְAbimelech
Mentions
Includes 11 verses that refer to Abimelech without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.
- Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
- One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
- Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
- Genesis 20:5Referred to, not namedDidn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
- Genesis 20:6Referred to, not namedThen God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
- Genesis 20:7Referred to, not namedNow return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
- Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
- Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
- Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
- So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
- And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
- Genesis 20:16Referred to, not namedAnd he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
- Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
- …for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.
- At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
- Genesis 21:23Referred to, not namedNow, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”
- But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,
- Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.”
- So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
- …and Abimelech asked him, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”
- Genesis 21:30Referred to, not namedHe replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.”
- After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.
- Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
- When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.
- Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, “So she is really your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought I might die on account of her.”
- “What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
- So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”
- Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”
- Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.
- Genesis 26:27Referred to, not named“Why have you come to me?” Isaac asked them. “You hated me and sent me away.”
- Genesis 26:28Referred to, not named“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
- Genesis 26:29Referred to, not named…that you will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only good to you, sending you on your way in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”
- Genesis 26:30Referred to, not namedSo Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
- Genesis 26:31Referred to, not namedAnd they got up early the next morning and swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.