Chapter 20 Abraham journeys to south

[1] And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

[2] And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, 

she is my sister: and Abimelech (king of Gerar) sent, and took Sarah.

[3] But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, 

Behold; thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

[4] But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, 

Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

[5] Said he not unto 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.

[6] And God said unto him in a dream, 

Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

[7] Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

[8] Therefore 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.

[9] Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, 

what hast thou done unto us? And what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

[10] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, 

What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

[11] And 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.

[12] And 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.

[13] And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

[14] And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

[15] And Abimelech said, 

Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

[16] And unto Sarah he said, 

Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

[17] So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

[18] For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Chapter 21