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The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Chapter 20 -

1
Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,
2
Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
3
One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
4
Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
5
Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6
Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
7
Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
8
Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
9
Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
10
Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
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Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
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Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
13
So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14
So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
15
And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
16
And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver.(a) It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
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Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
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for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.

Footnotes

(a)20:16 Or a thousand shekels of silver; that is, approximately 25.1 pounds or 11.4 kilograms of silver
1
Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.
2
Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the 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.”
4
Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
5
Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6
God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.
7
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”
8
Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”
10
Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
11
Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’
12
Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13
When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14
Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.
15
Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
16
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”
17
Abraham prayed to God. So God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
18
For the LORD had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
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