Abraham repeats an old failure

“And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in…” Naming Abraham and Gerar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.” Naming Sarah and Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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…” Naming Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“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…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“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…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“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…” Naming Abraham and Because keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became…” The line’s distinctive content terms include daughter, became, father. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him…” Naming Abimelech and Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.” Naming Abimelech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.