Genesis 20:13

20:13 When God made me wander ¹  from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: ²  Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”

Genesis 21:23

21:23 Now swear to me right here in God’s name ³  that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. ⁴  Show me, and the land ⁵  where you are staying, ⁶  the same loyalty ⁷  that I have shown you.” ⁸ 

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¹ tn The Hebrew verb is plural. This may be a case of grammatical agreement with the name for God, which is plural in form. However, when this plural name refers to the one true God, accompanying predicates are usually singular in form. Perhaps Abraham is accommodating his speech to Abimelech’s polytheistic perspective. (See GKC 463 §145.i.) If so, one should translate, “when the gods made me wander.”

² tn Heb “This is your loyal deed which you can do for me.”

³ tn Heb “And now swear to me by God here.”

⁴ tn Heb “my offspring and my descendants.”

⁵ tn The word “land” refers by metonymy to the people in the land.

⁶ tn The Hebrew verb means “to stay, to live, to sojourn” as a temporary resident without ownership rights.

⁷ tn Or “kindness.”

⁸ tn Heb “According to the loyalty which I have done with you, do with me and with the land in which you are staying.”