Genesis 20 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Around 2100 to 2000 BC, shortly before Isaac's birth
Location
Gerar, a Philistine town in the western Negev between the hill country and the coastal plain
Audience
Israelites of the Mosaic era, familiar with the Philistine coast as contested territory
Situation
Abraham moves south and again says that Sarah is his sister. King Abimelech takes her into his household, God warns him in a dream before he touches her, and Abimelech confronts Abraham, then restores Sarah with a large gift of livestock, silver and land rights.
Key Background
Rulers built alliances by taking wives from important households, so Abimelech's interest is diplomatic rather than merely personal, and a marriage tie with a wealthy migrant chieftain was worth having. Dreams were widely accepted across the ancient Near East as genuine communication from the gods, and legal texts show that acting in ignorance reduced guilt, which is exactly the plea Abimelech makes. The thousand pieces of silver given to Abraham publicly vindicates Sarah's honour before witnesses, an important legal function in a culture where a woman's reputation determined her son's standing.
Abraham moved on from there toward the region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in
Abraham said about his wife Sarah, my So king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.
But came to Abimelech in a that night and said to him, "You're a dead man — the woman you've taken is
Now Abimelech so he said, "My master, would you really destroy an
"Didn't he himself tell me, 'She's my sister'? And she herself also said, 'He's my brother.' I did this with a and
Then Elohim said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience. In fact, I'm the one who you from me — that's why I didn't let you touch her."
"Now return the man's wife. He is a and he will for you, and you'll live. But if you don't return her, know this: you will certainly die — you and everyone who belongs to you."
Abimelech up the next morning and called all his officials together. When he told them everything that had happened, the men were
Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How did I wrong you that you'd bring such on me and my kingdom? You've done things to me that should never be done."
Abimelech also said to Abraham, "What were you What made you do this?"
Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There's definitely no of in this place, and they'll kill me to get my wife.'"
"Besides, she really is my sister — my just not my — and she became my wife."
"When Elohim me from my father's household, I said to her, 'Here's the I need from you: everywhere we go, say about me, "He's my brother."'"
Then Abimelech took and and and gave them to Abraham. He also returned his wife Sarah to him.
Abimelech said, "My is to you — settle wherever you want."
To Sarah he said, "Look, I'm giving brother a of This is to before everyone with you — you are
Then Abraham to Elohim, and Elohim Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants so they could have children again.
Because had completely every in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.