In brief
Abimelech is a king of Gerar, in the land of the Philistines, in the days of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham passes Sarah off as his sister, and Abimelech has her taken; God warns him in a dream and keeps him from sinning. Later he makes a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba. A king of the same name also discovers Isaac’s lie about Rebekah. We remember an upright pagan who rebukes a man of God, and a faithful God who protects his promise despite the fear of his servants.
What does the name Abimelech King of Gerar mean?
The name Abimelech is generally linked to the Hebrew for “my father is king.” The Bible gives no explanation of it. The same name is used for the king of Gerar in Isaac’s time (Genesis 26:1), without the text saying whether he is the same man or a successor.
The story of Abimelech King of Gerar
Sarah taken at Gerar
Genesis 20:1-7Abraham lives as a foreigner in Gerar and says of Sarah, “She is my sister.” Abimelech, king of Gerar, sends and takes her. God comes to him in a dream and warns him that he is a dead man, because she is a man’s wife. Abimelech, who had not come near her, pleads his innocence. God acknowledges that he acted with integrity of heart and that he himself kept him from sinning.
The king rebukes Abraham
Genesis 20:8-18At dawn Abimelech tells his servants, who are very scared, then questions Abraham: “What have you done to us?” Abraham explains that he feared being killed, thinking the fear of God was not in that place. Abimelech restores Sarah and gives him sheep, cattle, servants and a thousand pieces of silver. Abraham prays, and God heals Abimelech, his wife and his female servants.
The covenant at Beersheba
Genesis 21:22-34Abimelech comes with Phicol, the captain of his army, and tells Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.” He asks him to swear not to deal falsely with him. Abraham complains about a well his servants had violently taken, and Abimelech says he knew nothing of it. Abraham gives him sheep and cattle, then seven ewe lambs as a witness, and the two make a covenant at Beersheba.
Isaac and Rebekah at Gerar
Genesis 26:1-11During a famine Isaac goes to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at Gerar. Out of fear he says of Rebekah, “She is my sister.” One day Abimelech sees him through a window playing with her and realizes she is his wife. He reproaches him for bringing guilt on the people, then commands that anyone who touches Isaac or his wife be put to death.
From dismissal to covenant
Genesis 26:12-31Isaac is blessed and becomes very rich; the Philistines envy him and fill in his wells. Abimelech tells him to go away, for he has become much mightier than they. Later he comes to him at Beersheba with Ahuzzath and Phicol and says, “We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you.” After a feast, they swear an oath to each other and part in peace.
What Abimelech King of Gerar teaches us
- God can keep someone from sinning, as he did for Abimelech, and his grace often comes before our decisions.
- Fear pushes even believers into lying, and that lie exposes others to sin.
- A Christian can receive a fair correction from the mouth of a non-believer and should accept it with humility.
- God stays faithful to his promises despite the weaknesses of Abraham and Isaac.
- A life blessed by God stands out, so much that even neighbors recognize that Yahweh is with it.
Key verses
God acknowledges Abimelech’s integrity and reveals that he himself kept him from sinning. His grace protects Sarah, the promise made to Abraham, and a pagan king alike.
A foreign king sees God’s presence in Abraham’s life. A lived faith, even an imperfect one, gives a visible witness to those around us.
After sending Isaac away, Abimelech comes back seeking peace, because he sees that Yahweh is with him. God blesses his servant in the midst of hostility.
Sermons about Abimelech King of Gerar
- Genesis 20: When a Pagan King Rebukes God's ProphetThe preacher stresses that Abimelech’s integrity brings out Abraham’s fault, and that God held the king back before he sinned while still using Abraham despite his sin.
- Putting to Death the Flesh That Wants to Save ItselfJudit points out that Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister before Abimelech at Gerar, and that Isaac later repeated the same lie: the flesh has a genetics that gets passed on.
Frequently asked questions
Why did God protect Abimelech?
Abimelech took Sarah without knowing she was married, because Abraham and Sarah had presented themselves as brother and sister. God acknowledges that he acted with integrity of heart and keeps him from touching her. He warns him in a dream, tells him to restore Sarah, then heals him at Abraham’s prayer (Genesis 20:3-17).
What does the name Abimelech mean?
The name is generally understood as “my father is king,” from the Hebrew. The Bible does not comment on it. Here it belongs to a king of Gerar, in the land of the Philistines, met in the time of Abraham and then in the time of Isaac.
Where is Abimelech’s story found in the Bible?
His story is in Genesis. Chapter 20 tells of Sarah being taken and the dream. Genesis 21:22-34 reports the covenant with Abraham at Beersheba. Chapter 26 tells of the meeting with Isaac and Rebekah at Gerar, then a new covenant.