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Genesis 20

See commentary, Rated "X", Genesis 19-21     |     See Bible Dictionary

Abraham sojourns at Gerar.

20:1 Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.

  Psalms 29:8  
Denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech.

20:2 Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

  Genesis 26:7   |   Colossians 3:9  

Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream.

20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of 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.”

20:4 Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?

20:5 Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.”

  Genesis 20:13  

20:6 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 didn’t allow you to touch her.

20:7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”

20:8 Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.

He rebukes Abraham,

20:9 Then Abimelech called 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 deeds to me that ought not to be done!”

20:10 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”

20:11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

20:12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

  Genesis 11:29  

20:13 It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

  Genesis 20:12  

Restores Sarah;

20:14 Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.

  Genesis 20:16  

20:15 Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”

and reproves her.

20:16 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. In front of all you are vindicated.”

  Genesis 12:5  

Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham's prayer.

20:17 Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.

20:18 For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

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