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20:1  Abraham broke camp and traveled into the Negeb, settling between Kedesh and Shur. He was dwelling in Gerar.
20:2  Abraham had said that Sarah, his wife, was his sister. Therefore, Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent to take Sarah for himself.
20:3  But God visited Abimelech during the night in a dream and said to him, “Behold, you are about to die because the woman you have taken belongs to her husband.”
20:4  Abimelech, who had not yet approached her, said, “My Lord, would you destroy an innocent nation?
20:5  Did he not tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And did she not also say, ‘He is my brother’? I did this with a pure conscience and in all innocence.”
20:6  God answered him in the dream, “I know that you acted with a good conscience when you did this. I prevented you from sinning against me. That is why I kept you from touching her.
20:7  Now give the woman back to this man. He is a prophet. He will intercede for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you and everyone with you will die.”
20:8  Abimelech got up early in the morning and summoned all his servants to whom he recounted all these things. The men were terrified.
20:9  Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and told him, “What have you done to us? What did I do to you that you have subjected me and my kingdom to such a great sin? You have done things to me that you really should not have done.”
20:10  Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What were you afraid of that you acted this way?”
20:11  Abraham answered, “I said to myself, ‘Certainly there will be no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
20:12  Besides, she is really my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
20:13  When God made me wander from my father’s homeland, I said to her, ‘Please do me this favor. Wherever we go, say that I am your brother.’ ”
20:14  Abimelech took flocks and herds, male and female slaves, and he gave them to Abraham, and he also gave back his wife Sarah.
20:15  Furthermore, Abimelech said, “Look around at my land; go and live wherever you please!”
20:16  To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given two thousand shekels of silver to your brother. May that repay you for what has happened to you. Thus, your honor will be totally preserved.”
20:17  Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his maidservants so that they could once more have children.
20:18  For the Lord had rendered all the women in the household of Abimelech sterile because of Sarah, the wife of Abraham.