Synopsis of the three narratives Wife–sister narratives in the Book of Genesis

1 synopsis of 3 narratives

1.1 abram , pharaoh
1.2 abraham , abimelech
1.3 isaac , abimelech

synopsis of 3 narratives

sarai taken pharaoh s palace james tissot.


abram , pharaoh

the first episode appears in genesis 12:10-20.

abram (later called abraham) pressured move egypt in order evade famine. because wife (also half-sister), sarai, beautiful, abram asks sister lest egyptians kill him can take her. on arriving before pharaoh, egyptians recognise sarai s beauty, , egyptian princes shower abram gifts of livestock , servants gain hand in marriage. sarai becomes part of pharaoh s house , god sends plague. pharaoh restores sarai abram , orders them leave egypt possessions abram had acquired in egypt.

abraham , abimelech

genesis 20:1-16 narrates story of abraham emigrating southern region of gerar, king named abimelech. abraham states sarah, wife, sister, leading abimelech try take sarah wife; however, god intervened before abimelech touched sarah. abimelech complains abraham, states sarah half-sister.

abimelech rebuking abraham wenceslas hollar. abimelech asks abraham, has thou done unto us?

abimelech restores sarah abraham, , gives him gifts of livestock , servants way of apology, , allows abraham reside anywhere in gerar. abimelech gives 1000 pieces of silver abraham reprove sarah covering of eyes . abraham prays abimelech , king , wife , concubines able conceive children; not.

isaac , abimelech

the third episode appears in genesis 26:1-33. here isaac who, in order avoid famine, emigrates southern region of gerar, king named abimelech. isaac has been told god, orders him avoid egypt, , promises him fulfillment of oath made abraham. isaac states rebekah, wife, sister, worried philistines otherwise kill him in order marry rebekah. after while, abimelech sees isaac sporting (hebrew mitsahek ) rebekah , states must isaac s wife rather sister.

isaac , abimelech swear friendship. occurred @ beersheba.

abimelech orders rebekah left alone denizens of gerar, on pain of death. isaac goes on spend year in area, , becomes wealthy, leading philistines in gerar envy him, abimelech sends isaac away.