Abimelech rose early, &c.— There is a strong appearance of piety in this conduct of Abimelech; who, as well as his servants, that is, his council and the people of his court, seems to have had a due reverence for the Almighty, and a becoming fear for his awful admonitions. He expostulates seriously with Abraham, as a man who dreaded to commit sin, and incur the Divine displeasure: what have I done, that, Genesis 20:9 thou hast brought on me, and on my kingdom, a great sin? i.e.. that thou wouldst have involved me and my kingdom in the enormous guilt of adultery: a crime so universally allowed abominable, that the very involuntary act, without the criminal intention, was thought enough to bring calamity and ruin on a whole kingdom. Perhaps also they might call to mind the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, which they had lately heard of, and might fear that some such calamity might befal them.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 20:8
Genesis 20:8
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.