GenesisChapter 20

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¹Abraham traveled from there to the area of the Negev. He settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, ²Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, the king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. ³But one night God came to Abimelech in a dream. He told him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken. She is a married woman." ⁴Abimelech had not gone near her. So he said, "Lord, would you destroy a nation that is innocent? ⁵Didn't Abraham tell me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with an honest heart and clean hands." ⁶Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience. So I kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. ⁷Now give the man's wife back. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give her back, know this. You will surely die, you and all who belong to you." ⁸Early the next morning Abimelech got up and called all his servants. He told them everything that had happened. And the men were terrified. ⁹Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you? You have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom! You have done things to me that should never be done." ¹⁰Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What made you do this?" ¹¹Abraham answered, "I thought to myself, 'Surely no one here fears God. They will kill me to get my wife.' ¹²Besides, she really is my sister. She is my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter. And she became my wife. ¹³God had me travel away from my father's house. Then I said to Sarah, 'This is how you can show you are loyal to me. Everywhere we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'" ¹⁴Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female servants. He gave them to Abraham. And he gave his wife Sarah back to him. ¹⁵Abimelech said, "Look, my land is open to you. Live wherever you like." ¹⁶He said to Sarah, "Look, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This shows everyone with you that you did nothing wrong. You are completely cleared." ¹⁷Then Abraham prayed to God. And God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they could have children again. ¹⁸Because of Abraham's wife Sarah, the LORD had kept every woman in Abimelech's household from having children.