Genesis 20 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Abraham's Treachery

Gen 20:1From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.

Gen 20:2

Gen 20:2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abim'elech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Gen 20:3

Gen 20:3But God came to Abim'elech 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."

Gen 20:4

Gen 20:4Now Abim'elech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, wilt thou slay an innocent people?

Gen 20:5

Gen 20:5Did 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."

Gen 20:6

Gen 20:6Then 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 against me; therefore I did not let you touch her.

Gen 20:7

Gen 20:7Now then restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours."

Gen 20:8

Gen 20:8So Abim'elech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid.

Gen 20:9

Gen 20:9Then Abim'elech 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."

Gen 20:10

Gen 20:10And Abim'elech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"

Gen 20:11

Gen 20:11Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.

Gen 20:12

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

Gen 20:13

Gen 20:13And when 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, say of me, He is my brother.'"

Gen 20:14

Gen 20:14Then Abim'elech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah his wife to him.

Gen 20:15

Gen 20:15And Abim'elech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you."

Gen 20:16

Gen 20:16To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your vindication in the eyes of all who are with you; and before every one you are righted."

Gen 20:17

Gen 20:17Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abim'elech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

Gen 20:18

Gen 20:18For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abim'elech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

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Source: Transcribed from: The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version containing the Old and New Testaments, translated from the original tongues: being the version set forth A.D. 1611, revised A.D. 1881-1885 and A.D. 1901: compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1946-52. — 2nd ed. of New Testament A.D. 1971. There should be enough in the rest of the description to identify the text.

Language: English

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Genesis 20 :: Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Abraham's Treachery

Pericope