Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20

1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between p Kadesh and Shur; and he q sojourned in r Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, s "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 t But God came to Abimelech u in a dream by night and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife." 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, v "Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this." 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning w against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man's wife, x for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you y and all who are yours."

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and 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? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done." 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you did this thing?" 11 Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, z There is no fear of God at all in this place, and a they will kill me because of my wife. 12 Besides, b she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when c God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, d say of me, He is my brother.'"

14 Then Abimelech e took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, "Behold, f my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you." 16 To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given g your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is h a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all 1 who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated." 17 Then i Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord j had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 16:7
    The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.
    Genesis 16:14
    Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 26:3
    Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 26:6
    So Isaac settled in Gerar.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 12:13 - 20
    Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.
    Genesis 26:7 - 11
    When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," for he feared to say, "My wife," thinking, "lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah," because she was attractive in appearance.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 105:14
    He allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account.
  6. Cross References
    Job 33:15 - 16
    In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds.
    Matthew 1:20
    But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
    Matthew 2:12
    And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 18:23
    Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
    1 Chronicles 21:17
    And David said to God, "Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 39:9
    He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?
    Psalms 51:4
    Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 7:5
    Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.
    Job 42:8
    Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 16:32 - 33
    And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:6
    By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 12:12
    And when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
    Genesis 26:7
    When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," for he feared to say, "My wife," thinking, "lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah," because she was attractive in appearance.
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 11:29
    And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah.
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 12:1
    Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 12:13
    Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.
  16. Cross References
    Genesis 12:16
    And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 13:9
    Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.
    Genesis 34:10
    You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 20:5
    Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 24:65
    And said to the servant, "Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.
  20. Cross References
    James 5:16
    Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
  21. Cross References
    Genesis 12:17
    But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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