Genesis Chapter 20 Back Next{20:1}
Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between
Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a
foreigner in
Gerar.
{20:2} Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister."
Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
{20:3} But God came to Abimelech in a
dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man's wife."
{20:4} Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
{20:5} Didn't he tell me, 'She is my sister?' She, even she herself, said, 'He is my
brother.' In the integrity of my
heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this."
{20:6} God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn't allow you to touch her.
{20:7} Now therefore, restore the man's wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don't restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours."
{20:8} Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
{20:9} Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!"
{20:10} Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you have done this thing?"
{20:11} Abraham said, "Because I thought, 'Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife's sake.'
{20:12} Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my
father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
{20:13} It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'"
{20:14} Abimelech took sheep and
cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.
{20:15} Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you."
{20:16} To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a
covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated."
{20:17} Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
{20:18} For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Genesis Chapter 20 Back Next