Genesis 20

Abraham Deceives Abimelech

20Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner,H85H5265H5045H776H3427H6946H7793H1481H16422Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.H85H559H413H8283H802H269H40H4428H1642H7971H3947H82833But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, "You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!"H430H935H40H2472H3915H559H4191H802H3947H1167H11664But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?H40H7126H559H136H2026H6662H14715Didn't Abraham tell me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'Yes, he is my brother.' I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean."H559H1931H269H1931H1571H1931H559H251H8537H3824H5356H3709H62136In the dream God responded, "Yes, I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.H430H559H2472H1571H3045H6213H8537H3824H2820H2398H5414H50607Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die."H7725H376H802H5030H6419H1157H2421H7725H3045H4191H41918Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified.H40H7925H1242H7121H5650H1696H1697H241H582H3966H33729Then Abimelech called for Abraham. "What have you done to us?" he demanded. "What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done!H40H7121H85H559H6213H2398H935H4467H1419H2401H6213H4639H621310Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?"H40H559H85H4100H7200H6213H169711Abraham replied, "I thought, 'This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.'H85H559H559H7535H3374H430H4725H2026H802H169712And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.H546H269H1323H1H1323H517H80213When God called me to leave my father's home and to travel from place to place, I told her, 'Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.'"H430H8582H1H1004H559H2617H6213H4725H935H559H25114Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him.H40H3947H6629H1241H5650H8198H5414H85H7725H8283H80215Then Abimelech said, "Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live."H40H559H776H6440H3427H2896H586916And he said to Sarah, "Look, I am giving your 'brother' 1,000 pieces of silver

in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared."H8283H559H5414H251H505H3701H3682H5869H319817Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.H85H6419H430H430H7495H40H802H519H320518For the LORD had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham's wife, Sarah.H3068H6113H6113H7358H1004H40H1697H8283H85H802