Gen 20

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		20:1 This seems to be a continuation from chapter 18:33 Thence meaning his place
		20:2 Here is another story of Abraham claiming that Sarah is his sister. This chapter seems to be out of place. It is not consistent that a 90 year old woman would be so pleasing to the sight that a king would still want to take her as his wife.
		Some say that this story is actually a repeat of the story in chapter 12. Because of the different sources that were available at the time, it is recorded twice in the bible. This finding is consistent since it is hard to believe that a 90 year old woman who was both withered and was not seeing her period anymore would be attractive to a king. I believe this story is a repeat of the story in Genesis 12. As a result of it being recorded that there was only one famine in the land, and therefore only one need for Abraham to travel to Egypt, it seems consistent that either the story is a repetition, or the two events happened consecutively on the same trip. This seems hardly to be the case. Abrahams faith would have grown from the last experience, and he would not likely test the Lord in the same way, by the same lie.
Given what we know that Abraham spoke directly with God in chapter 18. Is this chapter in the same time period as the destruction of Sodom, or more in line with a similar story in chapter 12.	Although the event is questionable. There seems to be no fault with the timeline. Abimilech (= "Melek is father" or "my father is king") was ruler of Gerar. It seems consistent that he (the prince (son of pharaoh) was the one who took Abraham’s wife (Gen 12:15). Again making it clear that it is the same story.  Also the land which Abraham had sojourned to, in the beginning of the chapter. This is a common question, see the commentary on the website listed below.
It seems that Sarah benefitted from the curse being lifted, as the very next thought about Sarah is that she becomes pregnant.	As the chapter closes we see that all the wombs of the women in house of Abimilech was open.
Why is it that Abraham lied again that Sarah was his sister?	Could it be that since it was a pre-agreement they maintained they’re agreement in spite of the circumstances which followed the first time.	It is indeed questionable as to why Abraham would lie again about his wife. But note that instead of God punishing him(Abraham) he is rewarded in both instances for his dishonesty.
How long was Sarah in the house of Abimilech?	It is not clear how long Sarah was in the house of Abimilech; however it seemed that Sarah had been in the house for a while. It is recorded that God had closed all the wombs of the women in the house of Abimilech, and that Abimilech had become sick. These happenings do not seem to have occurred in one day, or in a short space of time.