Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

THE PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH 12:lO-ZO
20: 12 indicates that the literal truth was being told, there
-is yet the possibiliy of telling it with the intent to deceive;
and so it becomes a lie. In addition, there is something
cowardly and mean about expecting Sarai to encounter the
hazards in order that Abram might avoid danger. The
heroic is notably absent in this request.” In reply to the
question as to how Sarai could be deemed beautiful at the
age of sixty-five, this author writes’ (ibid., 424) : “It must
be remembered that according to the limits of longevity of
those times she was only middle-aged. Middle-aged women
may have retained their beauty, especially if they have not
borne many children. On Pharaoh’s part the taking of a
woman into his harem may be largely a political expedient
to enhance his own influence.” Lange (CDHCG, 392):
“It must be observed that by the side of the Hamitic
women in Egypt and Canaan, Semitic women, even when
advanced in years, would be admired as beautiful. Abram
desired that Sarah should say that she was his sister, lest
he should be killed. If she was regarded as his wife, an
Egyptian could only obtain her when he had murdered
her husband and possessor; but if she was his sister, then
there was a hope that she might be won from her brother
by kindly means. The declaration was not false (20: 12),
but it was not the whole truth.” Lange goes on to say,
trying to justify what Abram did in this case, that the
patriarch’s policy to report that Sarai was his sister was
determined at an early period in their migrations, but was
first brought into use in his dealing with Pharaoh. (To
the present writer, this seems to be an unjuistified assump-
tion and wholly contrary to the tenor of 12:lI.) He
continues as follows: “Abram’s venture was not from laxity
as to the sanctity of marriage, or as to his duty to protect
his wife; it was from a presumptuous confidence in the
wonderful assistance of God. It was excused through the
great necessity of the time, his defenceless state among
strangers, the customary lawlessness of those in power, and
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