Genesis 20

Abraham and Abimelech

1 And Abraham journeyed from *Gen. 18:1there to the South, and dwelt between *Gen. 12:9; 16:7, 14Kadesh and Shur, and *Gen. 26:1, 6stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, *Gen. 12:11–13; 26:7"She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and *Gen. 12:15took Sarah.

3 But *Ps. 105:14God came to Abimelech *Job 33:15in a dream by night, and said to him, *Gen. 20:7"Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife."

4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, *Gen. 18:23–25; Num. 16:22will You slay a righteous nation also? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ *1 Kin. 9:4; 2 Kin. 20:3; Ps. 7:8; 26:6In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this."

6 And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For *Gen. 31:7; 35:5; Ex. 34:24; 1 Sam. 25:26, 34I also withheld you from sinning *Gen. 39:9; 2 Sam. 12:13against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; *1 Sam. 7:5; 2 Kin. 5:11; Job 42:8; James 5:14, 15for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her,*Gen. 2:17know that you shall surely die, you *Num. 16:32, 33and all who are yours."

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid. 9 And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I offended you, *Gen. 26:10; 39:9; Ex. 32:21; Josh. 7:25that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me *Gen. 34:7that ought not to be done." 10 Then Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?"

11 And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely *Gen. 42:18; Neh. 5:15; Ps. 36:1; Prov. 16:6the fear of God is not in this place; and *Gen. 12:12; 26:7they will kill me on account of my wife. 12 But indeed *Gen. 11:29sheis truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when *Gen. 12:1–9, 11; (Heb. 11:8)God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, *Gen. 12:13; 20:5say of me, "He is my brother." ’ "

14 Then Abimelech *Gen. 12:16took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, "See, *Gen. 13:9; 34:10; 47:6my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you." 16 Then to Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; *Gen. 26:11indeed this vindicates you *Mal. 2:9before all who are with you and before everybody." Thus she was rebuked.

17 So Abraham prayed *Num. 12:13; 21:7; Job 42:9; (James 5:16)to God; and God *Gen. 21:2healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children;18 for the Lord*Gen. 12:17had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.