For he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, &c.— This is the first place in Scripture where the word prophet occurs; and Abraham is the first to whom that appellation is given. It is evident, as Houbigant remarks, that, as it is added, he shall pray for thee, the word prophet contains the idea of a person acceptable to God, who can ask and obtain favours for men. In Exodus 7:1 a prophet is a person who speaks for another as his interpreter, as his mouth. The foretelling of future things does not appear to have been yet contained in the word. The Greek προφητης, a prophet, signifies immediately one that speaks for another: and the Hebrew נביא nabi, signifies a person who speaks something in an eminent and extraordinary manner. As prophets, or those who spoke for and as commissioned by God, foretold future events in his name, hence the word prophet came to imply not only a person who has familiar intercourse with God, and who is authorised to declare his will, and who by his prayers could obtain special blessings for others, but also a discloser of future events. Jeremiah 14:11; Jeremiah 15:1; Jeremiah 27:18. Psalms 99:6.
REFLECTIONS.—God again interposes to save Sarah from imminent danger. We have,
1. His appearance to Abimelech, to warn him of his danger in a dream. Why may not dreams sometimes be still monitory? He informs him he is a dead man if he touch her. Note; Every sin hath these wages. The sinner is already dead in the eye of God's law.
2. Abimelech's plea; ignorance, and in this case innocence. It is a blessed plea, to have the testimony of a good conscience. God will not slay the righteous.
3. God's acceptance of it, and injunction. He, who knew his heart, was satisfied of his integrity. Observe, God's approbation is a counterbalance against every unjust suspicion of the world. And God it was, who had withheld him. Learn hence, that we are all wonderfully indebted to God's restraining grace: how much worse else had we been than we are? But he must send her back, or die, for she is a prophet's wife, whose prayers should be accepted for him. Note; (1.) God's prophets have his peculiar care. (2.) The king upon the throne is as much exposed to the Divine wrath by sin, as the meanest. Let kings remember, they have the same law to be judged by as their subjects.