20:1 Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He sojourned in Gerar.

20:2 Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the 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."

20:4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?

20:5 Didn`t he tell me, `She is my sister?` She, even she herself said, `He is my brother.` In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this."

20:6 God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn`t allow you to touch her.

20:7 Now therefore, restore the man`s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don`t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.

20:8 Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.

20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!"

20:10 Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you have done this thing?"

20:11 Abraham said, "Because I thought, `Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife`s sake.`

20:12 Moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

20:13 It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father`s house, that I said to her, `This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, "He is my brother."`"

20:14 Abimelech took sheep and oxen, men-servants and women-servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife to him.

20:15 Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you."

20:16 To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated."

20:17 Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and they bore children.