1 Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar. 2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.” 4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with integrity of heart and innocence of hands.” 6 God said to him in the dream, “I also know that you did this with integrity of heart, and I myself kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 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, know that you will surely die, you and all who belong to you.” 8 Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told them all these things. The men were very afraid. 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 such a great sin upon me and my kingdom? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What prompted you to do this?” 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 really is 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 wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you will show me: wherever we go, say of me that I am your brother.’ ” 14 Abimelech took flocks, cattle, male slaves, and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Abraham’s wife Sarah to him. 15 Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever seems good to you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver, weighing about 25 pounds. This is to clear you in the eyes of all who are with you; before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his slave women, and they had children. 18 For the LORD had completely closed every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.