1 Abraham and Abimelech And Abraham journeyed from Gen. 18:1 there to the South, and dwelt between Gen. 12:9; 16:7, 14 Kadesh and Shur, and Gen. 26:1, 6 stayed in Gerar.
2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, Gen. 12:11–13; 26:7 “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and Gen. 12:15 took Sarah.
3 But Ps. 105:14 God came to Abimelech Job 33:15 in a dream by night, and said to him, Gen. 20:7 “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, Gen. 18:23–25; Num. 16:22 will You slay a righteous nation also?
5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ 1 Kin. 9:4;2 Kin. 20:3; Ps. 7:8; 26:6 In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
6 And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For Gen. 31:7; 35:5; Ex. 34:24;1 Sam. 25:26, 34 I also withheld you from sinning Gen. 39:9;2 Sam. 12:13 against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; 1 Sam. 7:5;2 Kin. 5:11; Job 42:8; James 5:14, 15 for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, Gen. 2:17 know that you shall surely die, you Num. 16:32, 33 and all who are yours.”
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.
9 And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I offended you, Gen. 26:10; 39:9; Ex. 32:21; Josh. 7:25 that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me Gen. 34:7 that ought not to be done.”
10 Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”
11 And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely Gen. 42:18; Neh. 5:15; Ps. 36:1; Prov. 16:6 the fear of God is not in this place; and Gen. 12:12; 26:7 they will kill me on account of my wife.
12 But indeed Gen. 11:29 she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when Gen. 12:1–9, 11; (Heb. 11:8) God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, Gen. 12:13; 20:5 say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”
14 Then Abimelech Gen. 12:16 took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.
15 And Abimelech said, “See, Gen. 13:9; 34:10; 47:6 my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.”
16 Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; Gen. 26:11 indeed this vindicates you Mal. 2:9 before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was rebuked.
17 So Abraham prayed Num. 12:13; 21:7; Job 42:9; (James 5:16) to God; and God Gen. 21:2 healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children;
18 for the Lord Gen. 12:17 had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.