Genesis 20:1-13 ▼

1 Abraham moved to the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar,

2 Abraham told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar sent men to take Sarah.

3 God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, |You're going to die because of the woman that you've taken! She's a married woman!|

4 Abimelech hadn't come near her, so he asked, |Lord, will you destroy a nation even if it's innocent?

5 Didn't he tell me himself, 'She's my sister,' and didn't she even say, 'He's my brother'? I did this in all innocence and with a clear conscience.|

6 |Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience,| God said to him in the dream. |In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That's why I didn't let you touch her.

7 Give the man's wife back to him now, because he's a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die.|

8 Early in the morning Abimelech called together all his officials. He told them about all of this, and they were terrified.

9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham and asked him, |What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you that you would bring such a serious sin on me and my kingdom? You shouldn't have done this to me.|

10 Abimelech also asked Abraham, |What were you thinking when you did this?|

11 Abraham said, |I thought that because there are no God-fearing people in this place, I'd be killed because of my wife.

12 Besides, she is my sister-my father's daughter but not my mother's. She is also my wife.

13 When God had me leave my father's home and travel around, I said to her, 'Do me a favor: Wherever we go, say that I'm your brother.'|