Genesis 20

1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur. And he sojourned in Gerar.2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man’s wife.4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation?5 Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.6 And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.7 Now therefore restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live. And if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

8 And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. And the men were sore afraid.9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? And wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife’s sake.12 And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife:13 and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me. At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.14 And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee. Dwell where it pleaseth thee.16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee. And in respect of all thou art righted.17 And Abraham prayed unto God. And God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants. And they bare children.18 For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 20

Abraham and Abimelech

1 Abraham journeyed from there to the Negevts region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived as a temporary residentt in Gerar,

2 Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.

3 But God appearedt to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as deadt because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.”t
4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord,t would you really slaughter an innocent nation?t

5 Did Abrahamt not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said,t ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear consciencet and with innocent hands!”
6 Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience.t That is why I have kept yout from sinning against me and whyt I did not allow you to touch her.

7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeedt he is a prophets and he will pray for you; thus you will live.ts But if you don’t give her back,t know that you will surely diet along with all who belong to you.”
8 Early in the morningt Abimelech summonedt all his servants. When he told them about all these things,t theyt were terrified.9 Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom?t You have done things to me that should not be done!”t

10 Then Abimelech askedt Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?”t
11 Abraham replied, “Because I thought,t ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because oft my wife.’12 What’s more,t she is indeed my sister, my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s daughter. She became my wife.

13 When God made me wandert from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me:t Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”
14 So Abimelech gavet sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him.

15 Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.”t

16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silvers to your ‘brother.’s This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”t
17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children.

18 For the Lordt had caused infertility to strike every womants in the household of Abimelech because he tookt Sarah, Abraham’s wife.