Abraham and Abimelech
1And Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. temporarily stayed
2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are but a dead man, for the woman which you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.
4But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, will You slay also a righteous nation? Adonais.f.
5Said he not to me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6And God said to him in a dream, Yea, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; for I also withheld you from sinning against Me: therefore allowed I you not to touch her.
7Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live: and if you restore her not, know you that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours.
8Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. greatly
9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, What have you done to us? and what have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? you have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.
10And Abimelech said to Abraham, What saw you, that you have done this thing? have you encountered
11And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
12And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, This is your kindness which you shall show to me; at every place where we shall come, say of me, he is my brother.
14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you: dwell where it pleases you.
16And to Sarah he said, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to you a covering of the eyes, to all that are with you, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children.
18For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. firmly
