Genesis 20

¹ Abraham journeyed on to the region of the Negeb, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he stayed in Gerar,

² he said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.

³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she has a husband."

⁴ Abimelech, who had not approached her, said: "O Lord, would you slay a man even though he is innocent?

⁵ He himself told me, 'She is my sister,' and she herself also stated, 'He is my brother.' I did it in good faith and with clean hands."

⁶ God answered him in the dream: "Yes, I know you did it in good faith. In fact, it was I who kept you from sinning against me; that is why I did not let you touch her.

⁷ Therefore, return the man's wife--as a spokesman he will intercede for you--that your life may be saved. If you do not return her, you can be sure that you and all who are yours will certainly die."

⁸ Early the next morning Abimelech called all his court officials and informed them of everything that had happened, and the men were horrified.

⁹ Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him: "How could you do this to us! What wrong did I do to you that you should have brought such monstrous guilt on me and my kingdom? You have treated me in an intolerable way.

¹⁰ What were you afraid of," he asked him, "that you should have done such a thing?"

¹¹ "I was afraid," answered Abraham, "because I thought there would surely be no fear of God in this place, and so they would kill me on account of my wife.

¹² Besides, she is in truth my sister, but only my father's daughter, not my mother's; and so she became my wife.

¹³ When God sent me wandering from my father's house, I asked her: 'Would you do me this favor? In whatever place we come to, say that I am your brother.'"

¹⁴ Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham; and after he restored his wife Sarah to him,

¹⁵ he said, "Here, my land lies at your disposal; settle wherever you please."

¹⁶ To Sarah he said: "See, I have given your brother a thousand shekels of silver. Let that serve you as a vindication before all who are with you; your honor has been preserved with everyone."

¹⁷ Abraham then interceded with God, and God restored health to Abimelech, that is, to his wife and his maidservants, so that they could bear children;

¹⁸ for God had tightly closed every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Abraham's wife Sarah.