Gen 20 | NASB2020 | STEP | Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev , and settled between Kadesh and Shur ; then he lived for a time in Gerar .

Genesis 20

Abraham’s Treachery

1 Now Abraham journeyed from ^athere toward the land of ^bthe ^{▼▼I.e., South country}Negev, and ^{▼▼Lit dwelt}settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived for a time in ^eGerar. 2 And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “ ^fShe is my sister.” So ^gAbimelech king of Gerar sent men and took Sarah. 3 ^hBut God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, ⁱyou are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is ^{▼▼Lit married to a husband}married.” 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, ^kwill You kill a nation, even though ^{▼▼Lit righteous}blameless? 5 Did he himself not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she ^mherself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In ⁿthe integrity of my heart and the innocence of my ^{▼▼Lit palms}hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also ^{▼▼Lit restrained
,} ^qkept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for ^rhe is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”

8 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ^{▼▼Lit ears}presence; and the people were greatly frightened. 9 ^tThen Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And ^{▼▼Lit what}how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom ^va great sin? You have done to me ^{▼▼Lit deeds}things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you ^{▼▼Lit seen}encountered, that you have done this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no ^yfear of God in this place, and ^zthey will kill me because of my wife. 12 Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife; 13 and it came about, when ^aaGod caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is ^{▼▼Lit your}the kindness which you will show to me: ^{▼▼Lit at every place where}everywhere we go, ^adsay of me, “He is my brother.”’” 14 ^aeAbimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. 15 Abimelech said, “ ^afBehold, my land is before you; ^{▼▼Lit dwell}settle wherever ^{▼▼Lit it is good in your sight}you please.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your ^aibrother a thousand pieces of silver. ^{▼▼Lit Behold, it is}It is ^{▼▼Lit for you a covering of the eyes}your vindication before all who are with you, and before everyone you are cleared.” 17 Then ^alAbraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves, so that they gave birth to children. 18 ^amFor the Lord had completely closed all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.