Genesis 12:10-20 and Genesis chapter 20: Why did Abraham lie about Sara, saying she was his sister and not his wife?

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I’m not a biblical scholar so please don’t be too hard on me.

I understand that twice Abraham presented his wife Sara as his sister. First in Egypt and later after Sodom and Gomorrah.

I am not sure that God recognized ancient Egypt as evil, because without Egypt there would be no Judeo-Christian Faith but Egypt was polytheistic. This was God’s first commandment to Moses so obviously of utmost importance. So Egypt had to be viewed by God as not abiding by his law, even though it wasn’t revealed until Moses many many years later.

Sodom and Gomorrah on the other hand were lost, shown the way but unable to follow a good life.

God’s commandment to Moses and the people on Sinai was "Thou shall not commit adultery". It is well established that adultery in biblical times was considered knowingly sleeping with a married woman. That was adultery. like it or not. So places that were so far away from God, and The Way, the likelihood of another man’s wife being taken in these ungodly places was much much more likely. Just a thought. Please be kind.