[1] From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and
dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. [2] And Abraham
said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abim'elech king of Gerar
sent and took Sarah. [3] But God came to Abim'elech in a dream by night,
and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you
have taken; for she is a man's wife." [4] Now Abim'elech had not approached
her; so he said, "Lord, wilt thou slay an innocent people? [5] Did he not
himself say to me, `She is my sister'? And she herself said, `He is my
brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have
done this." [6] Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you
have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you
from sinning against me; therefore I did not let you touch her. [7] Now
then restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you,
and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall
surely die, you, and all that are yours." [8] So Abim'elech rose early in
the morning, and called all his servants, and told them all these things;
and the men were very much afraid. [9] Then Abim'elech called Abraham, and
said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you,
that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me
things that ought not to be done." [10] And Abim'elech said to Abraham,
"What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?" [11] Abraham said, "I
did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and
they will kill me because of my wife. [12] Besides she is indeed my sister,
the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became
my wife. [13] And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I
said to her, `This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which
we come, say of me, He is my brother.'" [14] Then Abim'elech took sheep and
oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored
Sarah his wife to him. [15] And Abim'elech said, "Behold, my land is before
you; dwell where it pleases you." [16] To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have
given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your vindication in
the eyes of all who are with you; and before every one you are righted."
[17] Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abim'elech, and also healed
his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. [18] For the LORD
had closed all the wombs of the house of Abim'elech because of Sarah,
Abraham's wife.
