Chapter 20 - Chapter 20

Abraham removed from thence to the southcountry, and dwelt between Cades and Sur, andsojourned in Gerara.2 And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister.So Abimelech the king of Gerara sent, and tookher.3 And God came to Abimelech in a dream bynight, and he said to him: Lo thou shalt die forthe woman that thou hast taken: for she hath ahusband.4 Now Abimelech had not touched her, andhe said: Lord, wilt thou slay a nation that isignorant and just?5 Did not he say to me: She is my sister: andshe say, He is my brother? in the simplicity ofmy heart, and cleanness of my hands have I donethis.6 And God said to him: And I know thatthou didst it with a sincere heart: and therefore24 Book of GenesisI withheld thee from sinning against me, and Isuffered thee not to touch her.7 Now therefore restore the man his wife, forhe is a prophet: and he shall pray for thee, andthou shalt live: but if thou wilt not restore her,know that thou shalt surely die, thou and allthat are thine.8 And Abimelech forthwith rising up in thenight, called all his servants: and spoke all thesewords in their hearing, and all the men were exceedingly afraid.9 And Abimelech called also for Abraham, andsaid to him: What hast thou done to us? whathave we offended thee in, that thou hast broughtupon me and upon my kingdom a great sin?thou hast done to us what thou oughtest notto do.10 And again he expostulated with him, andsaid: What sawest thou, that thou hast donethis?11 Abraham answered: I thought with myself,saying: Perhaps there is not the fear of God inthis place: and they will kill me for the sake ofmy wife:12 Howbeit, otherwise also she is truly mysister, the daughter of my father, and not thedaughter of my mother, and I took her to wife.13 And after God brought me out of my father's house, I said to her: Thou shalt do methis kindness: In every place, to which we shallcome, thou shalt say that I am thy brother.14 And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, andservants and handmaids, and gave to Abraham:and restored to him Sara his wife,15 And said: The land is before you, dwellwheresoever it shall please thee.16 And to Sara he said: Behold I have giventhy brother a thousand pieces of silver, this shallserve thee for a covering of thy eyes to all thatare with thee, and whithersoever thou shalt go:and remember thou wast taken.17 And when Abraham prayed, God healedAbimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, andthey bore children:18 For the Lord had closed up every wombof the house of Abimelech, on account of Sara,Abraham's wife.