If marriage is sacred, and sex outside marriage forbidden, why did Abraham prostitute his wife, Sarah?

Question

Genesis 12:

14: And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

15: The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

16: And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

KJV Bible.

Regardless whether the bible is truthful, why do so many claim the bible considers marriage sacred or sex outside of marriage to be forbidden?

Or, is this another one of those "the bible doesn't really mean what it says" kind of deals?

I am an atheist, events before & after do not alter the fact that according to the bible, Abraham pimped his wife and was not punished for doing so. Neither was she.

The bible claims the Pharaoh was punished which indicates "God" is not particularly fair or just since Abraham & Sarah both lied during the process, and were rewarded for doing so.

The claim they weren't having sexual relations is illogical. The story makes no sense if we use that interpretation.

If she wasn't used for sex, why the lie about not being married?

She was so beautiful the Pharaoh gave her brother extreme wealth for her company?

Oh, okay...

Why did God punish Pharaoh if he was just being her buddy?

Thanks for your answers, but it appears that there is no biblical prohibition against sex outside of marriage (with the husband's consent) or a man prostituting his wife.

Claiming otherwise negates the claim that "every word of the Bible is to be taken literally" (and implicitly followed).

If we go to the next Chapter, we read:

GEN 13:2: And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Obviously, God wasn't too unhappy with them, given God's habit of slaughtering anyone who disobeyed him, including the residents of Sodom & Gomorrah. And, Lot's wife for the horrible sin of looking back.

Thanks, Gama, but Abraham didn't marry Hagar and God seemed okay with that, too.

Victor, I have read the bible more than once and nothing you claimed alters the fact that Abraham prostituted his wife and was rewarded for doing so. And, under God's direction. Which demonstrates that sexual relations are not prohibited and a man can freely prostitute his wife. And, expect to be rewarded for doing so.

The only alternative is that the bible is lying.

Perhaps you should read my question about all the incorrect "end times prophecies" before asserting that the "end times" are near.

Jesus isn't coming back and there will be no "judgment day," so you can relax.

Answer 1

There are many places in Bible where prostitution is promoted without any doctrine, proof, correction or punishment.

Answer 2

The verses you've sited are simply an account of what happened. Where does it say that God was happy with what Abram did? It would be the same as someone possible watching you driving faster than the posted speed limit and them assuming that it must be ok to do so because you were not caught or punished at the time.

There are many things in the bible that occur that are not directly condoned, condemned, mentioned, and not mentioned. For example, only a couple of times in the New Testament does it mention where Jesus and the Disciples ate any food. Should we assume that they only ate the times it mentions them eating? Of course not, it just wasn't mentioned the other times.
Just remember, the Old Testament is an account of things in chronological order (this then this then this). Very few times does it mention that God disapproved of the action, although common sense says that he did (according to the law...IE Ten Commandments)

Answer 3

Dude - you have a brain - USE IT! (no insult intended). If you REALLY read the account - or read the Old Testament at all you have to pay attention to the LAW handed to Moses.

The Law was handed down in Moses time, which was BEFORE the time of Abraham. Until the written code, sins before God was known, and some even presumed. But there was no hard and fast absolutes in writing.

Now - Abraham was trying to protect his life from a situation where he believed he would be killed. The Pharaoh had a reputation, a reputation of taking women for his own perhaps mainly from his own people.., non the less, Abraham had good reason to believe that Pharaoh may kill him to secure his wife from him.

And Pharaoh's men may have done just that! Killed him to secure this beautiful woman for their King. At any rate, Pharaoh was being a bad boy.., something God had just let pass until he tried to secure this woman from God's anointed. God got his attention and made his greatness known that He and His is not to be messed with - which explains why Pharaoh did not try to kill Abraham for his deception..., God already put a fear into this man.

A person can dream up what ifs and why didn't God do this and t hat all they want.., it doesn't change things. You yourself have done things and wondered later why you did them, or perhaps some people done certain things to you and you wonder why. It doesn't matter. What is done is done, and the reasons for the moment of the day.

A proper time for all things and all that. Use your head for something besides a hat-rack. If you don't believe the Bible, why do you build up condemnation against yourself to try and discredit the Bible in an attempt to convert the saved into twice the sinner you are?

At any rate - I believe Jesus will be returning soon enough (very likely in our lifetime), and he wont be sitting down with you to give an account for his life or things done in the old testament. YOU and I and all, will have to give an accounting.

Answer 4

Maybe because old Abe wasn't a dutiful Christian, but a dirty old lecher who wanted to have a peep.

In all seriousness though, the bible does claim all kinds of things, and I do suspect it does not mean what it says - nowadays, in its English translation or whichever translation you used. Many of these things have lost their meaning long ago, many have been confused and given new meanings, not least also because it was translated through many languages before it came to us, so whoever wrote this down really probably did not mean what we take it to mean nowadays. So just put it on the shelf, read other books instead, or don't read at all, and try to be the best person you can, that's really all you can do about it, not rack your brains over ancient silliness.

Answer 5

J.T. I think you do this because you like to poke fun at Christians.

Once again, you need to read the Bible in its context to understand these things...

Abraham was before the Mosaic law (Moses was several hundred years after Abraham/Abram.

But Abraham put his wife into this situation because he was scared that he would be killed, so he told a half-truth. Evidently Sarai/Sarah was related to him, so he was not technically lying. But it still was not the right thing to do and he knew it. And God didn't agree with it either.

Nowadays, anyone who would do such a cowardly thing would be wrong in doing so. I can't speak for whether it was right or wrong since the rules (the law) was made AFTER that time period.

Answer 6

Farther from the truth. You are another that picks and chooses and states his own theory/story.

Here you may understand.....
They went to Egypt where the famine was severe.
He said to Sarai to tell the Egyptians she was his sister.
They would have killed him and kept her.
The Egyptians treated him well due to her beauty.
Also the Lord inflicted severe plagues on the Pharaoh.
When they found out she was his husband the Egyptians let them go with everything they had.
They left with more than they came due to the Lord.
So since you were completely out of context and made up your synopsis I would think you may have some studying to do.
Regardless it is the truth shown.
And she was not prostituted. No mention of that.

God Bless he is good and another story proves it.

Answer 7

Dude, the Bible only shows that however bad you are, you still have a chance to change and be redeemed.

As long as you live, there is always a chance to repent and ask God for redemption.

I hope this clears thing up...email me if this is still unclear to you.

Answer 8

Just proves that it was written by men. Ancient, tribal men, who also saw things of nature, such as storms and locust, to be punishment from God. It's really no different from any other ancient writings during that time. Compared to our civilization, they were a barbaric, poor people. (Not saying modern people can not be barbaric...)

Answer 9

Because he was afraid of Pharoah and disobeyed God by not trusting in Him to protect him. He thought that Pharoah would kill him if he knew in order to get her. It is called simple sinful human failing. The rest of the story finishes the tale.

Answer 10

I agree with the person who said that it doesn't say that they slept together. We don't know what instruction was given to Abram by God, therefore don't know the whole story.