Abraham and Abimelech

¹Abraham traveled from there to the Negev region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. For a time, he lived in Gerar. ²Abraham told people that Sarah his wife was his sister. So Abimelech, the king of Gerar, had Sarah brought to him. ³But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream that night and said, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman." ⁴Now Abimelech had not gone near her, and he said, "LORD, would you destroy an innocent nation?" ⁵"Didn't he tell me himself, 'She is my sister'? And she also confirmed it, saying, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands." ⁶God replied to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience. That is why I kept you from sinning against me and did not let you touch her." ⁷"So now, give the man back his wife, because he is a prophet. He will pray on your behalf, and you will live. But if you do not return her, be certain that you will die—you and everyone who belongs to you." ⁸Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them everything that had happened. The men were deeply frightened. ⁹Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and asked him, "What have you done to us? How did I wrong you, that you would bring such a great sin upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." ¹⁰Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What did you see that made you do this?" ¹¹Abraham answered, "I assumed that there was no fear of God in this place, and that people would kill me to take my wife." ¹²"Besides, she truly is my sister—the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife." ¹³When God caused me to wander from my father's house, I asked her to do me this kindness: everywhere we go, say of me, 'He is my brother.' ¹⁴Abimelech then brought sheep, cattle, male servants, and female servants and gave them to Abraham. He also returned Sarah, his wife, to him. ¹⁵Abimelech said, "Look, my entire land is open to you. Settle wherever you wish." ¹⁶To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver. Look, he is a covering of the eyes to you, to all who are with you, and with all others." In this way she was reproved. ¹⁷Abraham then prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so that they could bear children again. ¹⁸For the LORD had completely closed every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.