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¹ Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He was a foreigner living in Gerar. ² Abraham said concerning Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." So Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. ³ But God came to Abimelek in a dream in the 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 Abimelek had not come near her and he said, "Lord, would you kill even a righteous nation? ⁵ Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister?' Even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands." ⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I also know that in the integrity of your heart you did this, and I also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not allow you to touch her. ⁷ Therefore, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you and all who are yours will surely die."

⁸ Abimelek rose early in the morning and called all of his servants to himself. He told all these things to them, and the men were very afraid. ⁹ Then Abimelek called for Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me deeds that ought not to be done." ¹⁰ Abimelek said to Abraham, "What prompted you to do this thing?" ¹¹ Abraham said, "Because I thought, 'Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' ¹² Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. ¹³ When God caused me to leave my father's house and travel from place to place, I said to her, 'You must show me this faithfulness as my wife: At every place where we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'" ¹⁴ Then Abimelek took sheep and cattle, and male slaves and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham. Then he returned Sarah, Abraham's wife, to him. ¹⁵ Abimelek said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever it pleases you." ¹⁶ To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is to cover any offense against you in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone, you are completely made right." ¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife, and his female slaves so that they were able to have children. ¹⁸ For Yahweh had closed all the wombs of the household of Abimelek because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.