Genesis
Summary
Genesis 20 relates Abraham's journey to Gerar, where he again claims Sarah is his sister. King Abimelech takes Sarah, but God warns him in a dream that she is a married woman, keeping him from touching her. After discovering the half-truth, Abimelech restores Sarah to Abraham with gifts. Abraham then prays to God, who heals Abimelech and his household.
Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,
and there Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "Behold, you are as a dead man because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."
Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy even a righteous nation?
Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? In the integrity (tom) of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this."
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet (Navi), and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will surely die, you and all who belong to you."
Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.
Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done."
And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What did you see, that you have done this thing?"
Abraham replied, "I thought to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'"
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
And it was, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is the loving-kindness (Chesed) you can show me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'"
Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female servants and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you; live wherever you please."
To Sarah he said, "Behold, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This is for you a covering of the eyes before all who are with you; and before everyone you are vindicated."
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his female servants so they could have children again,
for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.