Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Genesis 20
Abraham and Sarah in Gerar
Abraham moved from there into the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. He lived for a time in Gerar. Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and said, “You are a dead man because of the woman you have taken. She is married.”
Abimelech had not approached her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? Did he not tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I did this with an honest heart and innocent hands.”
God answered him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with an honest heart. I also kept you from sinning against me; that is why I did not let you touch her.
Now return the man's wife. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you so that you may live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die—you and everyone belonging to you.”
Abimelech Confronts Abraham
Abimelech rose early, summoned all his servants, and told them everything. The men were very afraid.
Then Abimelech summoned Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he asked. “How have I wronged you, that you have brought such great sin on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.”
Abimelech asked Abraham, “What did you have in mind when you did this?”
Abraham answered, “I thought, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she really is my sister, my father's daughter but not my mother's, and she became my wife. When God made me wander from my father's household, I said to her, ‘Show me this kindness: wherever we go, say that I am your brother.’”
Abimelech gave Abraham flocks, cattle, and male and female slaves, and returned his wife Sarah to him.
Abimelech said, “My land is before you. Settle wherever you see fit.”
To Sarah he said, “I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This clears your name before everyone with you; you are vindicated before all.”
Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his slave women, so that they could bear children. For the LORD had closed every womb in Abimelech's household because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.