Discovery BoxGenesis 20:16 
Context20:16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver 1 to your ‘brother.’ 2 This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.” 3
Genesis 31:35
Context31:35 Rachel 4 said to her father, “Don’t be angry, 5 my lord. I cannot stand up 6 in your presence because I am having my period.” 7 So he searched thoroughly, 8 but did not find the idols.
1 sn A thousand pieces [Heb “shekels”] of silver. The standards for weighing money varied considerably in the ancient Near East, but the generally accepted weight for the shekel is 11.5 grams (0.4 ounce). This makes the weight of silver here 11.5 kilograms, or 400 ounces (about 25 pounds).
2 sn To your ‘brother.’ Note the way that the king refers to Abraham. Was he being sarcastic? It was surely a rebuke to Sarah. What is amazing is how patient this king was. It is proof that the fear of God was in that place, contrary to what Abraham believed (see v. 11).
3 tn Heb “Look, it is for you a covering of the eyes, for all who are with you, and with all, and you are set right.” The exact meaning of the statement is unclear. Apparently it means that the gift of money somehow exonerates her in other people’s eyes. They will not look on her as compromised (see G. J. Wenham, Genesis [WBC], 2:74).
4 tn Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “let it not be hot in the eyes of my lord.” This idiom refers to anger, in this case as a result of Rachel’s failure to stand in the presence of her father as a sign of respect.
6 tn Heb “I am unable to rise.”
7 tn Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.
8 tn The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.
