Genesis 20

1From there Abraham journeyed toward the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur, and for a while he lived as a foreigner in Gerar.

2There Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

3But 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.”

4Now Abimelech had not come near her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill a nation even if it is innocent?

5Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and it was I who 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, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will surely die, you and all who belong to you.”

8Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his servants and told them all these things, and the men were terrified.

9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”

10Abimelech asked Abraham, “What were you thinking, that you did this thing?”

11Abraham said, “I thought, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother, and she became my wife.

13When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you can show me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’”

14Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle and male and female servants and gave them to Abraham, and he returned his wife Sarah to him.

15Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”

16To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”

17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so that they could bear children.

18For Yahweh had completely closed every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.