John Calvin Commentary Genesis 12:15

"And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh`s house." — Genesis 12:15 (ASV)

And commended her before Pharaoh Although Abram had sinned by fearing too much and too soon, yet the event teaches that he had not feared without cause, for his wife was taken from him and brought to the king. At first Moses speaks generally of the Egyptians; afterwards, he mentions the courtiers. By this course, he intimates that the rumor of Sara’s beauty was spread everywhere, but that it was more eagerly received by the courtiers, who indulge themselves in greater license.

When he adds that they told the king, we infer from this how ancient that corruption is which now prevails immeasurably in the courts of kings. For as all things there are full of blandishments and flatteries, so the nobles principally apply their minds to introduce, from time to time, what may be gratifying to royalty. Therefore, we see that whoever among them desires to rise high in favor is addicted not only to servile flatteries but also to pandering to their master’s lusts.

And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. Since she was carried off and dwelt for some time in the palace, many suppose that she was corrupted by the king. For it is not credible that a lustful man, when he had her in his power, would have spared her modesty.

Truly, Abram had richly deserved this, who had neither relied on the grace of God nor committed the chastity of his wife to His faithfulness and care; but the plague which immediately followed sufficiently proves that the Lord was mindful of her, and from this we may conclude that she remained uninjured.

And although, in this place, Moses says nothing expressly on the subject, yet, from a comparison with a similar subsequent history, we conjecture that the guardianship of God was not lacking to Abram at this time also. When he was in similar danger (Genesis 20:1), God did not allow her to be violated by the king of Gerar; shall we then suppose that she was now exposed to Pharaoh’s lust?

Would God have thought more about subjecting her, who had been once dishonored, to a second disgrace, than about preserving her, who had until then lived uprightly and chastely? Furthermore, if God showed Himself so propitious to Abram, as to rescue his wife, whom he exposed a second time to infamy, how is it possible that He would have failed to prevent the previous danger?

Perhaps, also, greater integrity still flourished in that age, so that the lusts of kings were not so unrestrained as they afterwards became.

Moreover, when Moses adds that Abram was kindly treated for Sarai’s sake, from this we conclude that she was honorably entertained by Pharaoh and was not dealt with as a harlot. When, therefore, Moses says that she was brought into the king’s palace, I do not understand this to have been for any other purpose than that the king, by a solemn rite, might take her as his wife.