Then Avimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What wrong have I done that you should bring so great a guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done to me things that ought not to be done. (20:9)
The Ohr Hachaim asks. Why did Avimelech repeat an expression that appears to be the same in meaning as his first complaint? In other words, What is the difference between the first statement "What have you done to us?" and the second statement, "What wrong have I done that you should bring so great a guilt upon me and my kingdom?"
The Ohr Hachaim answers by explaining that there are different levels of crimes and wrongdoings in society. The worst of them all is when somebody bestows upon another kindness and is repaid with harm and cruelty. This is evil at its best.
With this idea, the Ohr Hachaim explains the words of Avimelech. Avimelech recognized that Hashem was punishing him and his people with extreme suffering. Such punishment could only result from the ultimate crime of repaying kindness with cruelty. Avimelech asked Avraham two questions. First, what act of kindness did you do for us? Second, what act of cruelty have I done to you in payment for this kindness. It can only be for this type of situation that I am being punished. Only a sin of this caliber would result in the extreme degree of suffering I and my people are enduring. The first statement "What have you done to us" is understood to mean "what act of kindness have you done for us." The second statement "What wrong have I done" is understood to mean what act of cruelty have I done in response to your kindness for which we deserve this suffering that has befallen us.
