Genesis 20

reviewed Worded for an eighth-grade reader; the reading is the Translation's. Read the Translation with its notes.

1 Abraham moved on from there to the land of the Negev. He lived between Kadesh and Shur, and he stayed as a foreigner in Gerar. 2 Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, "Look, you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken. She is a married woman." 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill a nation even if it is just? 5 Didn't he tell me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a whole heart and clean hands." 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this with a whole heart. I too kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 So now give the man his wife back. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give her back, know that you will surely die, you and everyone who belongs to you." 8 Early in the morning Abimelech got up and called all his servants. He told them all these things, and the men were very much afraid.

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 such a great sin on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done." 10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What did you have in view, that you did this thing?" 11 Abraham answered, "I thought, 'There is simply no fear of elohim in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' 12 Besides, she really is my sister. She is my father's daughter, though not my mother's daughter, and she became my wife. 13 When elohim made me wander away from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the loyalty you must show me: everywhere we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'" 14 Then Abimelech took sheep and cattle, and slaves and maids, and gave them to Abraham. And he gave his wife Sarah back to him. 15 Abimelech said, "Look, my land is open to you. Live wherever you like." 16 To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a covering of the eyes for you and for all who are with you. And before everyone you are set right."

17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave-women, so that they bore children. 18 For the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.