Genesis 20
20
Chapter 20
Abraham and Abimelech
1Abraham travelled south to the Negev desert. He lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a time he stayed in Gerar. 2While he was there, Abraham told people that his wife, Sarah, was his sister. Because of this, the king of Gerar took Sarah so that she would become his wife. The king's name was Abimelech.
3But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream. He said to Abimelech, ‘Now you will die! The woman that you have taken to be your wife is already a married woman.’
4But Abimelech had not yet touched Sarah. He said to God, ‘Lord, I have not done anything wrong. Surely you will not destroy me and my people. 5Abraham told me that Sarah was his sister. And she herself said, “I am his sister.” So I am not guilty! I did not think that I was doing a bad thing.’
6God spoke to Abimelech again in a dream. He said, ‘That is true. You did not think that you were doing something wrong. I know that. So I did not let you touch her. I stopped you from doing anything wrong against me. 7You must now give her back to her husband. He is a prophet and he will pray for you. Because of that, you will not die. But if you do not give her back, you and all your people will surely die.’
8Early the next morning, Abimelech called together his officers. He told them what had happened. When the officers heard about it, they were very afraid. 9Abimelech called Abraham to come to him. He said to Abraham, ‘Why have you done this bad thing against us? I have not done anything wrong against you. Now you have made me and the people in my kingdom guilty of a very bad thing. Nobody should ever do the things that you have done to me.’ 10Abimelech asked Abraham, ‘What caused you to do this?’
11Abraham replied, ‘I did it because I was afraid. I thought, “The people here do not respect God. They will kill me so that they can take my wife from me.” #20:11 Verses 1-11 are like Genesis 12:11-20. 12And also, she really is my sister. She is the daughter of my father. But she is not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife. 13God told me to leave my father's house and to travel. At that time I said to Sarah, “This is how you can show that you love me. Everywhere we go, tell people that I am your brother.” ’
14Then Abimelech brought sheep and cows to give to Abraham. He also gave to Abraham male and female servants. And he gave Sarah back to Abraham. 15Abimelech said, ‘Look! See my land all round you. Go and live anywhere that you want to live.’
16Abimelech said to Sarah, ‘I have given 1,000 pieces of silver to your brother. #20:16 Abimelech was very kind. He called Abraham ‘Sarah's brother’, just like Abraham had said. He showed that people in that place did respect God. So Abraham had been wrong to be afraid. This is to show everyone that you yourself did nothing wrong. It will pay you for any trouble that you have received.’
17Then Abraham prayed to God. As a result, God made Abimelech become well again. He also made Abimelech's wife and his female slaves become well, so that they could have children again. 18The Lord had made them unable to have children. He did this because of what happened to Abraham's wife, Sarah.
Currently Selected:
Genesis 20: EASY
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
MissionAssist 2018
Genesis 20
20
Abraham and Abimelech
1From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between #ch. 16:7, 14 Kadesh and Shur; and he #ch. 26:3 sojourned in #ch. 26:6Gerar. 2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, #See ch. 12:13-20; 26:7-11“She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3#Ps. 105:14 But God came to Abimelech #Job 33:15, 16; Matt. 1:20; 2:12in a dream by 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.” 4Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, #ch. 18:23; [1 Chr. 21:17]“Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning #ch. 39:9; Ps. 51:4against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7Now then, return the man’s wife, #1 Sam. 7:5; Job 42:8 for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you #[Num. 16:32, 33]and all who are yours.”
8So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, #Prov. 16:6 ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and #ch. 12:12; 26:7they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12Besides, #[ch. 11:29]she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13And when #ch. 12:1 God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, #ch. 12:13say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14Then Abimelech #ch. 12:16took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15And Abimelech said, “Behold, #ch. 13:9; 34:10my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given #[ver. 5] your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is #[ch. 24:65]a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all#20:16 Hebrew It is a covering of eyes for all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17Then #[James 5:16]Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18For the Lord #[ch. 12:17]had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV: