Chapter 20

Chapter 20

1 Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur; and he lived temporarily as a foreigner in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said concerning his woman Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent officials and took Sarah into his keeping.

3 But The All-Powerful One came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Look, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is another man's woman.”

4 Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, “My Master, will You slaughter a nation even if it is innocent?

5 Did he not say to me himself, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”

6 Then The All-Powerful One said to him in the dream, “Knowing, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and I also held you back from sinning against Me; for this reason, I did not permit you to touch her.

7 So now, restore the man’s woman; for he is a prophet, and he will intercede for you so that you may live. But if you do not restore her, knowing, you shall know that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, summoned all his servants, and spoke all these words directly to them; and the men became exceedingly afraid.

9 Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, 'What have you done against us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought severe guilt upon me and upon my kingdom? You have done deeds against me that ought not to be done.”

10 Abimelech further asked Abraham, “What was your objective that you did this thing?”

11 Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear of The All-Powerful One in this place, and they will slaughter me because of my woman.’

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

13 And it came to pass, when The All-Powerful One caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do for me: at every place where we arrive, say concerning me, “He is my brother.”’”

14 Then Abimelech took flocks, herds, and male and female servants, gave them directly to Abraham, and restored his woman Sarah to him.

15 And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is open before you; settle wherever it is functional and good in your eyes.”

16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver; Look, this is a covering of the eyes for you before all who are with you, and before everyone you are completely vindicated.”

17 Then Abraham interceded by praying to The All-Powerful One, and The All-Powerful One healed Abimelech, his woman, and his female servants so that they could bear children once again.

18 For The Self-Existent had completely closed up every womb of the household of Abimelech because of the matter of Sarah, Abraham’s woman.