Abraham had been greatly favored by the king; even now Pharaoh would permit no harm to be done him or his company, but ordered a guard to conduct them in safety out of his dominions. At this time laws were made prohibiting the Egyptians from intercourse with foreign shepherds in any such familiarity as eating or drinking with them. Pharaoh's dismissal of Abraham was kind and generous; but he bade him leave Egypt, for he dared not permit him to remain. He had ignorantly been about to do him a serious injury, but God had interposed, and 131 saved the monarch from committing so great a sin. Pharaoh saw in this stranger a man whom the God of heaven honored, and he feared to have in his kingdom one who was so evidently under divine favor. Should Abraham remain in Egypt, his increasing wealth and honor would be likely to excite the envy or covetousness of the Egyptians, and some injury might be done him, for which the monarch would be held responsible, and which might again bring judgments upon the royal house.

Abraham havde modtaget stor gunst af kongen. Selv nu ville Farao ikke tillade, at der skete ham eller hans følge noget, men beordrede en vagt at føre dem sikkert ud af sit land. På denne tid blev der givet love, der forbød ægypterne at have samkvem med fremmede hyrder og vise dem fortrolighed ved at spise eller drikke med dem. Faraos afsked med Abraham var venlig og højsindet; men han bød ham forlade Ægypten, for han vovede ikke at lade ham blive. Han havde uden at vide det været ved at gøre ham alvorlig skade; men Gud var skredet ind og havde sparet monarken fra at begå så stor en synd. Farao så i denne fremmede et menneske, som Himmelens Gud ærede, og han frygtede for at have en mand i sit rige, der i en sådan grad var under Guds beskyttelse. Hvis Abraham var blevet i Ægypten, ville hans voksende rigdom og ære sandsynligvis havde vakt ægypternes misundelse eller begærlighed, og der kunne blive tilføjet ham skade, som kongen kunne blive holdt ansvarlig for, så der atter blev bragt straffedomme over kongehuset.