THE BOOK OF GENESIS

 

Genesis Chapter 20

1 ¶ Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and settled between Kadesh and Shur, and lived for a time in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 ¶ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman that you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, will you also slay an innocent people?

5 Did he not say to me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands have I done this.

6 And God said to him in a dream, Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; and I also kept you from sinning against me: for that reason I did not allow you to touch her.

7 Now then restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live: but if you do not restore her, know that you will surely die, you, and all who are yours.

8 ¶ Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told them all these things: and the men were terribly frightened.

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, What have you done to us? and what have I done to you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? you have done to me things that should not be done.

10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, What were you thinking, that you have done this thing?

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.

12 And yet she actually is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, This is the kindness that you must show me; at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.

14 ¶ And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored to him Sarah his wife.

15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you: dwell where you please.

16 And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver: it is a vindication of your honor, in the eyes of all who are with you, and all others: thus she was reproved.

17 So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children.

18 For the LORD had completely closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.