Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech

1Now Abraham (father of many) journeyed from there to the region of the Negev (southland) and settled between Kadesh (holy) and Shur (wall). While he was staying in Gerar (a lodging place), 2Abraham (father of many) said of his wife Sarah (princess), “She is my sister.” So Abimelech (my father is king) king of Gerar (a lodging place) had Sarah brought to him.

3One night, however, God {Elohim} came to Abimelech (my father is king) in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”

4Now Abimelech (my father is king) had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord {Adonai}, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”

6Then God {Elohim} said to Abimelech 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. 7Now 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, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

8Early the next morning Abimelech (my father is king) got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

9Then Abimelech (my father is king) called Abraham (father of many) and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned 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.” 10Abimelech (my father is king) also asked Abraham (father of many), “What prompted you to do such a thing?”

11Abraham (father of many) replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God {Elohim} in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife. 13So when God {Elohim} had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

14So Abimelech (my father is king) brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham (father of many) and restored his wife Sarah (princess) to him. 15And Abimelech (my father is king) said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.” 16And he said to Sarah (princess), “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver <25.1 lb / 11.4 kg>.a It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”

17Then Abraham (father of many) prayed to God {Elohim}, and God healed Abimelech (my father is king) and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— 18for on account of Abraham’s (father of many) wife Sarah (princess), the LORD {YHWH} had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s (my father is king) household.