Chapter 20

  Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He sojourned in Gerar.  

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  Abraham said about Sarah his wife, 'She is my sister.' Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.  

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  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.'  

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  Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, 'Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?  

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  Didn't he tell me, 'She is my sister?' She, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.'  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.  

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  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!'  

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  Abimelech said to Abraham, 'What did you see, that you have done this thing?'  

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  Abraham said, 'Because I thought, 'Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife's sake.'  

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  Moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.  

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  It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that 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.'''  

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  Abimelech took sheep and oxen, men-servants and women-servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife to him.  

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  Abimelech said, 'Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.'  

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  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.'  

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  Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and they bore children.  

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  For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.  

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