Genesis 20

1 Abraham traveled from there to the Negev ^{a20:1 i.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40} and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was living in Gerar as an outsider,ISV — Genesis 20:1

2 because Abraham kept saying about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister,” King Abimelech of Gerar summoned them and took Sarah into his household. ^{b20:2 The Heb. lacks into his household}ISV — Genesis 20:2

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night and spoke to him, “Pay attention! You’re about to die, because the woman you have taken is a man’s wife!”ISV — Genesis 20:3

4 Now Abimelech had not yet come near her, so he asked, “LORD, will you destroy an innocent nation?ISV — Genesis 20:4

5 Didn’t he say to me, ‘She’s my sister’? And she also said, ‘He’s my brother.’ I did this with pure intentions and clean hands.”ISV — Genesis 20:5

6 Then God replied to him in the dream, “I know that you did this with pure intentions, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore, I didn’t allow you to touch her.ISV — Genesis 20:6

7 Now then, return the man’s wife. As a matter of fact, he’s a prophet and can intercede for you so you’ll live. But if you don’t return her, be aware that you and all who are yours will certainly die.”ISV — Genesis 20:7

8 So Abimelech got up early the next morning, summoned all his servants, and told them all these things. The men became terrified.ISV — Genesis 20:8

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great sin against me and my kingdom? You’ve done things to me that ought not to have been done.”ISV — Genesis 20:9

10 Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What could you have been thinking when you did this?”ISV — Genesis 20:10

11 “I thought that there’s no fear of God in this place,” Abraham replied, “and that they would kill me because of my wife.ISV — Genesis 20:11

12 Besides, she really is my sister—she’s my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s daughter—so she could become my wife.ISV — Genesis 20:12

13 When God caused me to journey from my father’s house, I asked her to do me this favor and say, ^{c20:13 Lit. say about me} ‘He’s my brother.’”ISV — Genesis 20:13

14 So Abimelech took some sheep and oxen, and some male and female servants, gave them to Abraham, returned his wife Sarah to him,ISV — Genesis 20:14

15 and said, “Look! My land is available to you, so settle wherever you please.”ISV — Genesis 20:15

16 Abimelech also told Sarah, “Look! I am giving your brother 1,000 pieces of silver to vindicate ^{d20:16 Lit. to serve as a cloak for} you in the eyes of all who are with you. As a result, you will be completely vindicated.”ISV — Genesis 20:16

17 Then Abraham interceded with God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could bear children,ISV — Genesis 20:17

18 since the LORD had made all the women barren ^{e20:18 Lit. had closed all the wombs} in Abimelech’s household on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah.ISV — Genesis 20:18