Genesis 12:8-20

From there, he journeyed on toward the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built another altar to YAHWEH where he prayed and worshiped YAHWEH. Then Abram journeyed from there by stages through the southern desert region. At that time, a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to travel down to Egypt and live there as a foreigner. When he drew near to Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I’m worried because I know that you are a beautiful, gorgeous woman. When the Egyptian men take one look at you, they will say, ‘She is his wife.’ Then they will kill me in order to have you. Just tell them you are my sister so that they will treat me well for your sake and spare my life.” When Abram entered Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s stunning beauty. When Pharaoh’s dignitaries spotted her, they went to Pharaoh and raved about her beauty. Then they took Sarai into the palace and made her part of Pharaoh’s harem. Because she pleased Pharaoh, Abram got along very well in Egypt and received royal treatment: he was given sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, camels, and male and female slaves. But YAHWEH struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible diseases because he had taken Abram’s wife, Sarai. So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “How could you do this to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? And why did you lie to me by saying, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here’s your wife back; take her and begone!” Then Pharaoh gave strict orders to his men to escort them out of Egypt along with everything they had.