Genesis 20 · Parashat Vayera

And Avraham journeyed from there toward the Negev, and dwelt between Qadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

And Avraham said of Sara his wife, She is my sister: and Avimelekh king of Gerar sent, and took Sara.

But God came to Avimelekh in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken, for she is a man’s wife.

But Avimelekh had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt Thou slay also a righteous nation?

Said he not to me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

And God said to him in a dream, I too know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me: therefore I did not permit thee to touch her.

Now therefore restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Therefore Avimelekh rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

Then Avimelekh called Avraham, and said to him, What hast thou done to us? and in what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds to me that ought not to be done.

And Avimelekh said to Avraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

And Avraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.

And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show to me; at every place where we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

And Avimelekh took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them to Avraham, and restored him Sara his wife.

And Avimelekh said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleases thee.

And to Sara he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, it is to thee a covering of the eyes, to all that are with thee, and unto all others: thus she was reproved.

So Avraham prayed to God: and God healed Avimelekh, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bore children.

For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Avimelekh, because of Sara Avraham’s wife.