Chapter 20
1 Abraham travelled from there towards 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.