1 Abraham’s Deception Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev (the South country), and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived temporarily in Gerar.
2 AbrahamSee 12:11-13.said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” SoThe word “Abimelech” may be a royal title instead of a proper name. In either case this man is probably the father or grandfather of Abimelech king of the Philistines encountered later by Isaac (26:1).Abimelech king of Gerar sent and tookSarah was about ninety years old at this time.Sarah [into his harem].
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.”
4 Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, “Lord, will you kill a people who are righteousandinnocentandblameless [regarding Sarah]?
5 Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you backandspared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her.
7 So 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 returnher[to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).”
8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were terrified.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].”
10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encounteredorseen [in us or our customs], that you have done this [unjust] thing?”
11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fearorreverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
12 Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindnessandloyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him [as God commanded].
15 So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”
16 Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours aPerhaps about three years’ or a thousand days’ wages.thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened]andto vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are clearedandcompensated.”
17 So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and theyagaingave birth tochildren,
18 for the Lhad securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.