Genesis 20

Abraham and Sarah at Gerar

1Abraham moved to the Southern Desert, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. Later he went to Gerar, and while there 2#Gn 12.13; 26.7. he told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream and said, “You have taken a married woman into your home, and for this you will die!”

4-5Abimelech said to the Lord, “Don't kill me! I haven't slept with Sarah. Didn't they say they were brother and sister? I am completely innocent.”

6Then God continued:

I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sleeping with Sarah and doing anything wrong. 7Her husband is a prophet. Let her go back to him, and his prayers will save you from death. But if you don't return her, you and all your people will die.

8Early the next morning Abimelech sent for his officials, and when he told them what had happened, they were frightened. 9Abimelech then called in Abraham and said:

Look what you've done to us! What have I ever done to you? Why did you make me and my nation guilty of such a terrible sin? 10What were you thinking when you did this?

11Abraham answered:

I did it because I didn't think any of you respected God, and I was sure that someone would kill me to get my wife. 12Besides, she is my half sister. We have the same father, but different mothers. 13When God made us leave my father's home and start wandering, I told her, “If you really love me, then tell everyone that I am your brother.”

14After Abimelech had given Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves, he sent Sarah back 15and told Abraham he could settle anywhere in his country. 16Then he said to Sarah, “I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver as proof to everyone that you have done nothing wrong.”#20.16 as proof … wrong: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

17-18Meanwhile, God had kept Abimelech's wife and slaves from having children. But Abraham prayed, and God let them start having children again.

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Genesis 20

Abraham and Abimelech

1And 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. 2Now 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.

3But #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.”

4But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, #Gen. 18:23–25; Num. 16:22will You slay a righteous nation also? 5Did 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.”

6And 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. 7Now 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.”

8So 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. 9And 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.” 10Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”

11And 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. 12But indeed #Gen. 11:29she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13And 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.” ’ ”

14Then Abimelech #Gen. 12:16took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. 15And Abimelech said, “See, #Gen. 13:9; 34:10; 47:6my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16Then 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.

17So 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; 18for the Lord #Gen. 12:17had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

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