Genesis 20:14 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Gave them to Abraham, &c.— It is manifest, from this transaction, and the similar one recorded in ch. 12: that Abraham was desirous to pass for Sarah's brother, from the single motive of preserving his life; they will slay me for my wife's sake: and to preserve my life, said he, this is the kindness which thou shalt shew me, &c. So that the infidel objections of those who would insinuate, that the patriarch acted upon mercenary views, are of no weight. The presents, which Pharaoh and Abimelech gave him, were voluntary acknowledgments of their unintentional offence against him, and of his interceding with God for them: oblations of gratitude for their recovery from the sore plagues wherewith God had afflicted them, and a kind of commutation of the injury and affront which they had shewn to persons so highly favoured of God, that, at what time they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, he suffered no man to do them wrong, but reproved even kings for their sakes. Psalms 105:13-14.