Why was Abraham afraid of being killed in Egypt?
Why did he lie about his wife being his sister?

Why was Abraham afraid of being killed in Egypt?
Why did he lie about his wife being his sister?

Q. Why was Abraham, in Genesis 12, afraid that the Egyptians and Pharaoh were going to kill him? Why would he lie and say his wife, who was 65 years old, was his sister?

A. Let's take a look at the verses in Genesis 12 concerning your question:

"Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram (Abraham) went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.  And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.  Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.  Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."

"So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.  The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh.  And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. . . .

"And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me?  Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?  Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife.  Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way." " (Genesis 12:10-15, 18-19, NKJV)

Sarah (Sarai), wife of the patriarch Abraham, was no ordinary woman.

Every reference to these verses, both Biblical and secular, speak of Sarah's beauty in highly favorable terms. One such reference comes from The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation by Michael Wise, Martin Abegg, Jr., & Edward Cook:

"Found in scroll 1QapGen (Apocryphon of Genesis) it is noted that Abraham has a dream while in Egypt and then relates it and interprets it to Sarah. He tells her that councilors and advisors will come from Pharaoh and try to take her by force.

"After Pharaoh's advisors return to him, one named Hyrcanos describes Sarah's beauty in poetic form: 'Col. 21 [...] how splen[did] and how beautiful is the aspect of her face, [And] h[ow] supple is the hair of her head.  How lovely are her eyes; how pleasant her nose and all the radiance of her face [...] How shapely is her breast, how gorgeous all her fairness!  Her arms, how comely!  Her hands, how perfect -- How lovely is every aspect of her hands!  How exquisite are her palms, how long and delicate all her fingers! Her feet, how attractive!  How perfect are her thighs!  Neither virgins nor brides entering the bridal chamber exceed her charms.  Over all women is her beauty supreme, her loveliness far above them all.  Yet with all this comeliness, she possesses great wisdom, and all that she has is beautiful.' "

The following is extracted from JewishEncyclopedia.com under the subject Sarah, subtitled In Pharaoh's Harem:

"On the journey to Egypt, Abraham hid his wife in a chest in order that no one might see her.  At the frontier the chest had to pass through the hands of certain officials, who insisted on examining its contents in order to determine the amount of duty payable.  When it was opened a bright light proceeded from Sarah's beauty.  Every one of the officials wished to obtain possession, each offering a higher sum than his rival . . ." (Gen. R. xl. 6; 'Sefer ha- Yashar, ' Section "Lek Leka").

Later, the book of Genesis records the account of Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-7) where once again Sarah is highly desired by Abimelech because of her beauty.

Both stories emphasize Sarah's unusual position in God's plan and intent that she become the mother of Isaac at age 90 and grandmother of Israel. She is highly esteemed among Christians and Jews, who consider her one of the four Biblical matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel).  Truly Sarah was beautiful not only in looks but also in character.