Sojourning Between Worlds: Analyzing וַיָּגָר in Genesis 20:1
Introduction to Genesis 20:1: Abraham’s Movement into Foreign Territory Genesis 20:1 opens a new episode in the Abrahamic narrative, depicting his movement toward the Negev region and his temporary residence in Gerar, the Philistine territory ruled by Abimelek. The key verb וַיָּגָר (“and he sojourned”) does more than describe geographic relocation—it carries legal, social, and…