Abraham and Abimelech

20 And Abraham journeyed from athere to the South, and dwelt between bKadesh and Shur, and cstayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, d“She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and etook Sarah.

3 But fGod came to Abimelech gin a dream by night, and said to him, h“Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is 1a man’s wife.”

4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, iwill 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.’ jIn the 2integrity 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 kI also withheld you from sinning lagainst Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; mfor he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, nknow that you shall surely die, you oand 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 3offended you, pthat you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me qthat 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 rthe fear of God is not in this place; and sthey will kill me on account of my wife. 12 But indeed tshe is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.