Genesis 20

¹ Abraham left there for the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While stayingin Gerar,

² Abraham said of his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister,' and Abimelech the king of Gerar had Sarahbrought to him.

³ But God visited Abimelech in a dream one night. 'You are to die,' he told him, 'because of the womanyou have taken, for she is a married woman.'

⁴ Abimelech, however, had not gone near her; so he said, 'Lord, would you kil someone even if he isupright?

⁵ Did he not tel me himself, "She is my sister"? And she herself said, "He is my brother." I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.'

⁶ 'Yes, I know,' God replied in the dream, 'that you did this with a clear conscience and I myselfprevented you from sinning against me. That was why I did not let you touch her.

⁷ Now send the man's wife back; for he is a prophet and can intercede on your behalf for your life. Butunderstand that if you do not send her back, this means death for you and al yours.'

⁸ Early next morning, Abimelech summoned his ful court and told them the whole story, at which thepeople were very much afraid.

⁹ Then summoning Abraham, Abimelech said to him, 'What have you done to us? What wrong have Idone you, for you to bring such guilt on me and on my kingdom? You had no right to treat me like this.'

¹⁰ Abimelech then said to Abraham, 'What possessed you to do such a thing?'

¹¹ 'Because', Abraham replied, 'I thought there would be no fear of God here and that I should be kil edfor the sake of my wife.

¹² Anyway, she real y is my sister, my father's daughter though not my mother's, besides being my wife.

¹³ So when God made me wander far from my father's home I said to her, "There is an act of love youcan do me: everywhere we go, say of me that I am your brother." '

¹⁴ Abimelech took sheep, cattle, men and women slaves, and presented them to Abraham, and gavehim back his wife Sarah.

¹⁵ And Abimelech said, 'Look, my land is open to you. Settle wherever you please.'

¹⁶ To Sarah he said, 'Look, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This wil al aysuspicions about you, as far as al the people round you are concerned; you have been completely vindicated.'

¹⁷ Abraham then interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave-girls, so thatthey could have children,

¹⁸ for Yahweh had made al the women of Abimelech's household barren on account of Sarah,Abraham's wife.