seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
Here's the link to the commentary I use. That's where I found this.... A Jewish legend says when Abram went into Egypt, he tried to hide Sarai in a box. When Egyptian customs officials asked what he had in the box, he said, “barley.” “No,” they said, “it contains wheat.” “Very well,” answered Abram. “I’ll pay the custom on wheat.” Then the officers said it contained pepper. Abram said he would pay the custom charges on pepper. Then the officers said it contained gold. Abram said he would pay the custom charges on gold. Then the officers said it contained precious stones. Abram said he would pay the custom charges on precious stones. By this time, the officers insisted on opening the box. When they did, all of Egypt shined with the beauty of Sarai. These same legends say that in comparison to Sarai, all other women looked like monkeys. She was even more beautiful than Eve (cited in Ginzburg).
Please say you are my sister: This was in fact a half-truth. Sarai was Abram’s half-sister (Genesis 20:12). Yet this half-truth was a whole lie. Abram’s intent here was clearly to deceive, and he trusted in his deception to protect him instead of trusting in the LORD.
Wow.... Sarai must have been a knockout. Hollywood will have a real hard time finding a woman to fit her part, without finding a super qualified beautician to add the perfection, right?
Wow... they had "Customs" back then? I wonder... did they print their passports too? Come on... this is back before Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's still with them. So... the idea of popping Sarai in a box is just absurd, right?
Abram used Sarai!!!! The first few times I read this I came away with the "what a pig" feeling. This time I get the "Abram sold Sarai for his own welfare" feeling.
"Sarai went along with it" some would retort. Yeah... I can see her running around the room trying not to get caught so she wouldn't have to tell Pharaoh who she really was. I don't think she went right to him.
On top of that.... It says that Abram acquired flocks and slaves. Sarai had to avoid Pharaoh for a while to allow for the time in verse 16.
But wait... there was no birth control in those days. Pharaoh couldn't just lay with any woman he wanted. A woman could already be pregnant and go to Pharoah claiming to be virgin... to trick Pharoah into making her baby the child of Pharoah "by birth". In the Book of Esther we learned that kings would have women held for several months to confirm they were not carrying a baby already.
So.... Abram was avoiding famine... while getting rich.... all because.... Sarai was a knockout!
Because of Sarai's beauty and Abram's sleaziness.... Abram made out like a bandit.
Abram made out because of Sarai.... I wonder... Was she really innocent or was she willing?
Sarai was a knockout! Did Sarai know how gorgeous she really was, and use it to benefit her, and her husband, during a horrible famine?
Was Sarai innocent or was she willing?
