Genesis
20
- Now Abraham moved on from there into the
region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed
in Gerar,
- and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah,
"She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah
and took her.
- But God came to Abimelech in a dream one
night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman
you have taken; she is a married woman."
- Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so
he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation ?
- Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,'
and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear
conscience and clean hands."
- Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes,
I know 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.
- Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet,
and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her,
you may be sure that you and all yours will die."
- Early the next morning Abimelech summoned
all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were
very much afraid.
- Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said,
"What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought
such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should
not be done."
- And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What
was your reason for doing this ?"
- Abraham replied, "I said to myself,
'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because
of my wife.'
- Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter
of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
- And when God had me wander from my father's
household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere
we go, say of me, "He is my brother." '"
- Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle
and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah
his wife to him.
- And Abimelech said, "My land is before
you; live wherever you like."
- To Sarah he said, "I am giving your
brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against
you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
- Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed
Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,
- for the LORD had closed up every womb in
Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.
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