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The Genesis
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Chapter 20
1 Well, sometime after that, AbraHam moved to the southern part of the country and took up living between Cades and Sur, staying for a while in GeraRa. 2 And [there] AbraHam [told the people] that his woman SarAh was his sister. He didn't want to say, 'She's my woman,' for fear that the men of that city would kill him because of her. So, AbiMelech (the king of GeraRa) sent for SarAh and took her [to be his woman]. 3 But God came to AbiMelech at night in a dream and told him: 'Look; You're all going to die because of this woman you've taken, since she [already has] a man!'
4 Well, AbiMelech hadn't touched her [yet], so he replied: 'Lord, would you destroy a righteous nation that has sinned in ignorance? 5 Didn't he tell me, She's my sister? And didn't she tell me, He's my brother? I've done this with righteous hands and with a pure heart.'
6 Then God replied to him in his [dream]: 'Yes, I know that you did this with a pure heart. That's why I've spared you and [kept you from] sinning against Me, and that's why I also kept you from touching her. 7 So return this man's woman now, because he's a Prophet. Then he will pray for you and you will continue to live. However, if you don't return her, you and all that are yours will die.'
8 So early the next morning, AbiMelech got up and called all his servants in; then he told them everything that was said, which frightened them. 9 And thereafter, AbiMelech called AbraHam in and asked, 'What have you done to us? [What type of bad] have you seen in me that you should do such a thing? Have we sinned against you in some way so that you would draw my whole kingdom and me into such a great sin? Why, you've done something to me that no one should ever do!' 10 And AbiMelech continued: 'What [bad] have you seen in me that you would do such a thing?'
11 Then AbraHam replied: '[I thought] that this surely couldn't be a place where they worship God, so they will kill me for my woman. 12 [And in fact], she really is my sister by my father (but not by my mother), whom I took as my woman. 13 So when God took me from my father's house, I told her, I have a righteous thing that I want you to do for me: Wherever we go, tell [people] that I'm your brother.'
14 Then AbiMelech returned his woman SarAh, along with a thousand silver coins, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants. 15 And AbiMelech said to AbraHam: 'Look, my whole land lies before you. So now, go wherever you wish.'
16 Then he told SarAh: 'Look, I've given your brother a thousand silver coins. These are yours as the price of your face and for all the women who are with you… but [in the future, you must] always tell the whole truth!'
17 So AbraHam prayed to God, and God healed AbiMelech. [He also healed AbiMelech's] woman and his concubines, and they thereafter gave birth to children 18 (because Jehovah had closed all the wombs in AbiMelech's house due to AbraHam's woman, SarAh).
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