Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
Said he not unto me She is my sister? This as the first isit of Abraham to Gerar; and in his ignorance Said he not unto me, She is my sister? This was the first visit of Abraham to Gerar; and in his ignorance whether there was any moral or religious principle among the people of that place, he apprehended that he would be brought into danger from the rare attractions of his wife. By the disingenuous artifice he resorted to, and which he persuaded Sarah to support, he showed an indifference about the chastity of his wife, and through a slavish dread of death seemed eager to provide for his own safety at the expense of her honour; although a moment's reflection on the splendid promises made to him would have been sufficient to dispel all his fears.
In the integrity of my heart ... have I done this. This phrase is used in evident opposition to any deceit or violence; and has a reference solely to integrity and innocence with respect to his obtaining possession of Sarah, whom, on the ground of her ostensible relation to Abraham, he considered himself at liberty to appropriate conformably to the usage of his country and age. This plea God himself was pleased to admit; but at the same time informed him that the illness, under which he suffered was brought upon him to prevent the dishonour of the Hebrew woman, whom he was commanded to restore to her husband.