(BA) Genesis 20

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The text below is adapted from the ASV

1 And Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and he stayed in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken, because she is a man's wife.

4 Now Abimelech had not come near her, and he said, Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? 5 Did he not himself say to me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself, said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.

6 And 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 did not allow you to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man's wife, because he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. And if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.

8 And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears, and the men were very afraid. 9 Then Abimelech 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 deeds to me that ought not be done.

10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, What did you see, that you did this thing?

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for my wife's sake. 12 And moreoever she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 Then, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, This is your kindness that you will show to me. At every place where we come, say of me, He is my brother.

14 And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored to him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you. Dwell in it where it pleases you.

16 And 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, and concerning everything you are vindicated. 17 And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female slaves, and they bore children. 18 For Yahweh had closed up fast all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

ASV. The American Standard Version of the Bible, as printed in 1901 by Thomas Nelson and Sons.

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