and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
12. Therefore it shall come to pass , that when the Egyptians shall see thee , etc . It may seem that Abram was unjust to the Egyptians, in suspecting evil of them, from whom he had yet received no injury. And, since charity truly is not suspicious; he may appear to deal unfairly, in not only charging them with lust, but also in suspecting them of murder.
Here is, I. A famine in the land of Canaan, a grievous famine. That fruitful land was turned into barrenness, not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites who dwelt therein, but to exercise the faith of Abram who sojourned therein; and a very sore trial it was; it tried what he would think, 1.
Commenting on Genesis 12:10-13
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee,.... Who were a lustful people, and whose eyes would soon be fastened upon, and be taken with the beauty of Sarai: that they shall say, this is his wife; this beautiful woman is such a man's wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive; so great a regard had...