ESV Reformation Study Bible – Gen 12:12
Resources chevron-right ESV Reformation Study Bible chevron-right Genesis chevron-right Gen 12:12
Gen 12:12

12:12 Egyptians . . . will kill me. Although hospitality to strangers was a duty in the ancient Near East (18:2–5; Deut. 10:18, 19), strangers were vulnerable (cf. 19:3–11). Abraham was not necessarily selling Sarah’s honor to save himself, for this ruse had been planned long before (20:13), perhaps to stall for time in dangerous circumstances (cf. 24:55; 34:13–17).