Genèse 20

¹ From there Abraham traveled to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,

² Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

⁴ Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, “Lord, would you destroy a nation even though it is innocent?

⁵ Didn’t he himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have not let you touch her.

⁷ Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”

Note · Genèse 20.1–7

Une intervention avant l’irréparable

Abimélec reçoit un avertissement avant d’avoir eu de relation avec Sara. Son intégrité est reconnue dans le cadre de ce qu’il savait. La menace divine n’efface donc pas la question de la connaissance et de la responsabilité : le récit prend au sérieux la différence entre tromper et être trompé.

⁸ Early in the morning Abimelech got up, called all his servants together, and personally told them all these things, and the men were terrified.

⁹ Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, “What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”

¹⁰ Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What made you do this?”

¹¹ Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’

¹² Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.

¹³ So when God had me wander from my father’s house, I said to her: Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: ‘He’s my brother.’”

Note · Genèse 20.8–13

Une justification qui ne résout pas la tromperie

Abraham explique sa peur et le lien familial réel qui l’unit à Sara. Une information partielle peut pourtant servir à cacher la relation décisive. Sa présomption concernant les habitants de Guérar ne suffit pas à rendre juste le risque imposé à Sara et à la maison d’Abimélec.

¹⁴ Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves, gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him.

¹⁵ Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you want.”

¹⁶ And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your brother one thousand pieces of silver. It is a verification of your honor to all who are with you. You are fully vindicated.”

¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could bear children,

¹⁸ for the Lord had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household on account of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Note · Genèse 20.14–18

Restituer et prier

Abimélec restitue Sara et accompagne ce geste de dons ; Abraham prie pour sa maison. Le prophète peut être appelé à intercéder alors même qu’il a besoin d’être repris. Le trouble de la fécondité dans cet épisode ne donne pas une explication générale de l’infertilité ni le droit d’y chercher une faute cachée.