Genesis 20 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)

Abraham’s Deception

Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev (the South country), and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived temporarily in Gerar.

Gen 20:2

Gen 20:2Abraham [fn]said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So [fn]Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took [fn]Sarah [into his harem].

Gen 20:3

Gen 20:3But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.”

Gen 20:4

Gen 20:4Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, “Lord, will you kill a people who are righteous and innocent and blameless [regarding Sarah]?

Gen 20:5

Gen 20:5“Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

Gen 20:6

Gen 20:6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her.

Gen 20:7

Gen 20:7“So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).”

Gen 20:8

So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were terrified.

Gen 20:9

Gen 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].”

Gen 20:10

Gen 20:10And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered or seen [in us or our customs], that you have done this [unjust] thing?”

Gen 20:11

Gen 20:11Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear or reverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

Gen 20:12

Gen 20:12“Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife.

Gen 20:13

Gen 20:13“When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindness and loyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Gen 20:14

Gen 20:14Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him [as God commanded].

Gen 20:15

Gen 20:15So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”

Gen 20:16

Gen 20:16Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a [fn]thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.”

Gen 20:17

Gen 20:17So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children,

Gen 20:18

Gen 20:18for the LORD had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

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AMP Footnotes

(20:2)

See 12:11-13.

(20:2)

The word “Abimelech” may be a royal title instead of a proper name. In either case this man is probably the father or grandfather of Abimelech king of the Philistines encountered later by Isaac (26:1).

(20:2)

Sarah was about ninety years old at this time.

(20:16)

Perhaps about three years’ or a thousand days’ wages.

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