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Genesis 20:7
Now therefore restore the manhis wife; for heis a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restoreher not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all thatare thine.

Genesis 12:17
And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

Genesis 16:2
And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

the LORD had completely closed all the wombs
This divine intervention demonstrates God's sovereignty and power over human fertility, a recurring theme in the Bible. The closing of the wombs is a direct act of God, emphasizing His control over life and His ability to intervene in human affairs. This act serves as a protective measure for Sarah, ensuring that no child could be born to her while she was in Abimelech's household, thus preserving the integrity of the promised lineage through Isaac. This theme of God opening and closing wombs is seen elsewhere in Scripture, such as in the stories of Rachel (Genesis 30:22) and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5-6).

in Abimelech’s household
Abimelech, the king of Gerar, is a significant figure in this narrative. His household represents a foreign power that unknowingly comes into conflict with God's covenant plan. The mention of his household indicates that the impact of God's intervention was widespread, affecting not just Abimelech but all those under his authority. This incident takes place in the region of Gerar, which is located in the Negev, south of Canaan. The historical and geographical context highlights the interactions between the patriarchs and the surrounding nations, illustrating the broader narrative of God's people living among and sometimes in conflict with other cultures. The story of Abimelech also parallels later interactions between Israel and foreign kings, such as Pharaoh in Egypt, where God intervenes to protect His people and His promises.

• This opening word ties verse 18 to the events of verses 1-17. God’s warning to Abimelech in a dream (v. 3) and Abraham’s prayer (v. 17) explain the “why.”

• Scripture often uses “for” to supply the reason behind divine actions (seeRomans 1:18;Jonah 1:10). Here it tells us God’s intervention was not random.

• By linking the healing of the women in v. 17 to the closing of their wombs in v. 18, the text underscores that both the affliction and its removal come from the same sovereign LORD (Deuteronomy 32:39;1 Samuel 2:6).

• God’s covenant promise to bless the world through Abraham and Sarah’s offspring (Genesis 17:15-19) made her marriage exclusive and inviolable.

• Abimelech’s taking of Sarah—even in ignorance—threatened the purity of that promise. Compare the earlier incident in Egypt where the LORD “struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai” (Genesis 12:17).

• The verse highlights Sarah’s unique role; by protecting her, God guards the lineage that will lead to Isaac, then to Christ (Galatians 3:16).

• Fertility is in God’s hand. “He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyful mother of children” (Psalm 113:9). He also withholds it when necessary (1 Samuel 1:5-6).

• The adverb “completely” (rendered “had completely closed” in) emphasizes thoroughness. No natural cause can override God’s deliberate action here (Job 42:2;Luke 1:37).

• By closing every womb, God signals unmistakably that the judgment is divine, not accidental.

• The plague fell on every potential mother—wives, concubines, servant girls—showing collective accountability within Abimelech’s household (Joshua 7:24-25).

• Total barrenness would quickly become obvious, heightening the urgency of God’s warning and Abimelech’s repentance.

• Such corporate effects remind us that sin, even unintentional, can bring widespread consequences (Exodus 20:5;Romans 5:12).

• The term covers the king, his family, and his servants, parallel to “Pharaoh’s household” inGenesis 12.

• A royal household’s offspring secures dynastic future; halting births threatened Abimelech’s legacy and kingdom stability (2 Samuel 7:12).

• By targeting the household rather than the nation, God tailors discipline to the offender, displaying both justice and restraint (Psalm 103:9-10).

Genesis 20:18 explains that every womb in Abimelech’s household was divinely sealed because he had taken Sarah, the covenant wife of Abraham. God’s direct action safeguarded His promise, underscored His sovereignty over life, and provided unmistakable evidence that moral boundaries around marriage cannot be crossed without consequence. When Abimelech returned Sarah and Abraham prayed, the same LORD reopened those wombs, proving that judgment and mercy flow from His faithful hand.

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