Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
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. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to 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. Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
6. Then God said to him 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, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”
8. Early the next morning, Abimelech summoned all his servants, and when he told them all these things, they were filled with fear.
9. Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How did I sin 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. And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do this?”
11. 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.’
12. 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 wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘Show your loyalty to me wherever we go: Declare that I am your brother.’”
14. Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham. He also returned 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, “Look, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
17. Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could bear children,
18. for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household on account of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.