Abraham and Abimelek

20:1–18Ref—Ge 12:10–20; 26:1–11

20 Now Abraham moved on from thereu into the region of the Negevv and lived between Kadeshw and Shur.x For a whiley he stayed in Gerar,z 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.a” Then Abimelekb king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.c

3 But God came to Abimelekd in a dreame one night and said to him, “You are as good as deadf because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”g

4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?h 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,i’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear consciencej and clean hands.k”

6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have keptl you from sinning against me.m That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet,n and he will pray for youo and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”p