1Abraham moved from Mamre to the southern part of Canaan and lived between Kadesh and Shur. Later, while he was living in Gerar, 2he said that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him. 3God appeared to the king in a dream and said: »You are going to die, because you have taken this woman. She is already married.« 4Abimelech had not come near her. He said: »Lord, I am innocent! Would you destroy my people and me? 5»Abraham said that she was his sister. She said the same thing. I did this with a clear conscience. I have done no wrong!« 6God said to him in a dream: »Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. In fact, I kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7»Give the man’s wife back to him now. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give her back, you and all who belong to you are doomed to die.« 8So Abimelech got up early in the morning. He called all his servants and told them everything. The men were very afraid. 9Then Abimelech called Abraham. He said to him: »What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you? You have brought a great sin on me and on my kingdom. You have done to me things that ought not to be done.« 10Abimelech also asked Abraham: »What were you thinking when you did this?« 11Abraham said: »I thought that because there are no people who reverence God in this place, I would be killed because of my wife. 12»Besides, she is my sister. She is my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s. She is also my wife. 13»When God had me leave my father’s home and travel around, I said to her: 'Do me a favor: Wherever we go, say that I am your brother.'" 14Abimelech took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. 15Abimelech said: »Look, here is my land. Live anywhere you like. 16He said to Sarah: »Do not forget that I have given your brother twenty-five pounds of silver. This is to silence any criticism against you from everyone with you. You are completely cleared.« 17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have children. 18Jehovah had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech’s household to have children because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.