Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters

Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (Full Version)

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Fledgling -> Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 12:18:47 PM)
Why did Abraham say Sarah was his sister? Abimelech would not have taken her if Abraham had said she was his wife, at least that is what he says. and why was the same thing repeated with Isaac in that Isaac also telling Abimelech that Rebecca was his sister? Was it so that God could ultimately get total protection for them? Are they not a lies? Is lying not a sin? I am a bit confused.. please provide some insight. Gen 20:2 And AbrahamH85 saidH559 ofH413 SarahH8283 his wife,H802 SheH1931 is my sister:H269 and AbimelechH40 kingH4428 of GerarH1642 sent,H7971 and tookH3947 (H853) Sarah.H8283 Gen 20:3 But GodH430 cameH935 toH413 AbimelechH40 in a dreamH2472 by night,H3915 and saidH559 to him, Behold,H2009 thou art but a dead man,H4191 forH5921 the womanH802 whichH834 thou hast taken;H3947 for sheH1931 is a man'sH1167 wife.H1166 Gen 20:4 But AbimelechH40 had notH3808 come nearH7126 H413 her: and he said,H559 Lord,H136 wilt thou slayH2026 alsoH1571 a righteousH6662 nation?H1471 Gen 20:5 SaidH559 heH1931 notH3808 unto me, SheH1931 is my sister?H269 and she,H1931 evenH1571 she herselfH1931 said,H559 HeH1931 is my brother:H251 in the integrityH8537 of my heartH3824 and innocencyH5356 of my handsH3709 have I doneH6213 this.H2063 Gen 20:6 And GodH430 saidH559 untoH413 him in a dream,H2472 Yea,H1571 IH595 knowH3045 thatH3588 thou didstH6213 thisH2063 in the integrityH8537 of thy heart;H3824 for IH595 alsoH1571 withheldH2820 thee from sinningH4480 H2398 against me: thereforeH5921 H3651 sufferedH5414 I thee notH3808 to touchH5060 H413 her. Gen 20:7 NowH6258 therefore restoreH7725 the manH376 his wife;H802 forH3588 heH1931 is a prophet,H5030 and he shall prayH6419 forH1157 thee, and thou shalt live:H2421 and ifH518 thou restoreH7725 her not,H369 knowH3045 thou thatH3588 thou shalt surely die,H4191 H4191 thou,H859 and allH3605 thatH834 are thine. Gen 20:8 Therefore AbimelechH40 rose earlyH7925 in the morning,H1242 and calledH7121 allH3605 his servants,H5650 and toldH1696 (H853) allH3605 theseH428 thingsH1697 in their ears:H241 and the menH376 were sore afraid.H3372 H3966 Gen 20:9 Then AbimelechH40 calledH7121 Abraham,H85 and saidH559 unto him, WhatH4100 hast thou doneH6213 unto us? and whatH4100 have I offendedH2398 thee, thatH3588 thou hast broughtH935 onH5921 me and onH5921 my kingdomH4467 a greatH1419 sin?H2401 thou hast doneH6213 deedsH4639 untoH5973 me thatH834 ought notH3808 to be done.H6213 Gen 26:6 And IsaacH3327 dweltH3427 in Gerar:H1642 Gen 26:7 And the menH376 of the placeH4725 askedH7592 him of his wife;H802 and he said,H559 SheH1931 is my sister:H269 forH3588 he fearedH3372 to say,H559 She is my wife;H802 lest,H6435 said he, the menH376 of the placeH4725 should killH2026 me forH5921 Rebekah;H7259 becauseH3588 sheH1931 was fairH2896 to look upon.H4758 Gen 26:8 And it came to pass,H1961 whenH3588 he had been thereH8033 a longH748 time,H3117 that AbimelechH40 kingH4428 of the PhilistinesH6430 looked outH8259 atH1157 a window,H2474 and saw,H7200 and, behold,H2009 IsaacH3327 was sportingH6711 with(H853) RebekahH7259 his wife.H802 Gen 26:9 And AbimelechH40 calledH7121 Isaac,H3327 and said,H559 Behold,H2009 of a suretyH389 sheH1931 is thy wife:H802 and howH349 saidstH559 thou, SheH1931 is my sister?H269 And IsaacH3327 saidH559 untoH413 him, BecauseH3588 I said,H559 LestH6435 I dieH4191 forH5921 her.

wreid77 -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 12:26:35 PM)
The bottom line is that both Isaac and Abraham did not trust the people of the city they were entering. Each knew that their wife was beautiful and others would find her so and out of fear for their own life (and seemingly cowardice in not protecting their wife) claimed them as their sister. If a woman's husband died who would she belong to? The idea is that if someone wanted to take Abraham's wife as his own, or Isaac's the husband would first have to die. That is why they said it. What would have happened if they had not said it is not relevant to the question of why they did. One theological answer is they lacked faith that GOD would protect them if they told the truth. The revelation after the fact that they would not have died is held up of proof of that.

Lapidoth -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 12:33:01 PM)
quote: Why did Abraham say Sarah was his sister? Abimelech would not have taken her if Abraham had said she was his wife, at least that is what he says. and why was the same thing repeated with Isaac in that Isaac also telling Abimelech that Rebecca was his sister? Was it so that God could ultimately get total protection for them? Are they not a lies? Is lying not a sin? I am a bit confused.. please provide some insight. Q: Why did Abraham say Sarah was his sister? A: Because she was his half-sister. So, it wasn't a lie. Q: Isaac repeated the action in his own life? A: Perhaps like father-like son. Part of our misunderstandings and confusion come because we try to force fit our perceptions into the events in the Bible. We run across similar situations every week in our Bible Study groups. Why this? Why that? What if? We are endoctrinated apart from the customs and ways of life of the Biblical lands and day. So, many things seems way out of line in our western cultural mindsets. What we have to do, even when we don't understand a portion is to get to where we can step back and see the "whole big picture." Sometimes they all fall in line, sometimes we're still stumped. But always viewing through the "big picture" will help.

Fledgling -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 12:33:27 PM)
Thanks that makes sence.. its strange that the same thing is repeated.. by father and son. Its also strange that men who are spoken to and walk with God would not have faith that he would protect them and instead felt the need to lie and put their wives in danger. Well I think it was a lie because it was a half-truth.. He did not say she was his wife in order to mis-lead.. I believe half-truths are the same as a lie.

Liveloved -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 12:44:47 PM)
Fear. Fear is our mode of operation until perfect love casts every remnant out.

TrustingGod -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 1:30:34 PM)
They reacted the same we react today. Why do we worry? Doesn't our Father own everything? Doesn't He take care of our needs? But yet we forget to lean on Him sometimes. I think Abraham and Isaac did the same thing - they were leaning on their own plans and not God's. Lapidoth, how do you handle these issues in your Bible study - looking at the culture, customs, etc. when sutdying the Bible? I'd love a resource that I could read a verse and then look up what the customs, practices of the time/person/culture would indicate what this meant.

Fledgling -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 7:46:20 PM)
A friend of mine who has been an avid studier of the bible for a long time says that the "Complete Jewish Bible" takes into consideration the culture , customs etc..

colliefan -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/13/2008 10:38:04 PM)
The Bible paints a complete picture of the individuals. There were times in their lives, as in ours, when they didn't fully trust God. Sinfull habits are often pasted down through the generations.

LBolt -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/14/2008 5:37:55 PM)
I really think that Abraham and Isaac felt that those kings would have killed them for their wives. So fear was definitely in operation.

Annie64 -> RE: Why did Abraham and Isaac both say their wives were their sisters (8/15/2008 6:27:13 AM)
A lot of times people make the faulty assumption that if the Bible says that a person did something, then it must be a good thing to do, simply because it's in the Bible. This is especially true when Biblical heroes such as Abraham and Isaac (not to mention Moses and David) are the ones doing it. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have heard that in ancient times, when a culture wanted to write about one of its heroes for posterity, they didn't say anything bad about that person, speaking of their accomplishments in glowing, often unrealistic terms. The Bible is different, and this is one of the things that show its authenticity. It lets you see its heroes warts and all. Abraham made mistakes and even committed sins. Nevertheless he is called God's friend. That gives us hope, because we don't always live up to God's standard, either. There is forgiveness for us, too, and hope that we will someday hear those words, "well done."

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