So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
Genesis 20:17 belongs to the account of Abraham's sojourn among the Philistines and of God's dealings with Abram. That account shows God's providential care and interest among people and gives repeated lessons in faith. In that setting Abimelech knew the true God, and his people showed greater regard for morality than the other nations of Palestine.
God worked with Abimelech, and his dealings with Abraham gave him an opportunity to learn. God also used him to rebuke Abraham. The verse means that Abraham prayed to God, and in response God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, restoring their ability to bear children.
The verse thus presents prayer as a means through which God brought healing and restored fertility. Abraham's prayer for Abimelech is an example warranting prayer for other people. The verse is evidence of Abraham's standing as a prophet and of his obedience to God.
In this chapter Abimelech had been directly instructed by God concerning the prohibition of adultery, showing that he understood the seventh commandment. The passage in Genesis 20:13-17 is an example of God condemning lying.
Genesis 20:17 belongs to the account of Abraham's sojourn among the Philistines and of God's dealings with Abram. That account shows God's providential care and interest among people and gives repeated lessons in faith. In that setting Abimelech knew the true God, and his people showed greater regard for morality than the other nations of Palestine.
God worked with Abimelech, and his dealings with Abraham gave him an opportunity to learn. God also used him to rebuke Abraham. The verse means that Abraham prayed to God, and in response God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, restoring their ability to bear children.
The verse thus presents prayer as a means through which God brought healing and restored fertility. Abraham's prayer for Abimelech is an example warranting prayer for other people. The verse is evidence of Abraham's standing as a prophet and of his obedience to God.
In this chapter Abimelech had been directly instructed by God concerning the prohibition of adultery, showing that he understood the seventh commandment. The passage in Genesis 20:13-17 is an example of God condemning lying.