Genesis 20 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Abraham left that place and traveled to the Negev. [111] Abraham settled in the city of Gerar, between Kadesh and Shur. While in Gerar,

² Abraham told people that Sarah was his sister. Abimelech, king of Gerar, heard this. Abimelech wanted Sarah, so he sent some servants to take her.

³ But one night, God spoke to Abimelech in a dream. God said, “You will die. That woman you took is married.”

⁴ But Abimelech had not yet slept with Sarah. So Abimelech said, “Lord, I am not guilty. Would you kill an innocent person?

⁵ Abraham himself told me, ‘This woman is my sister.’ And the woman also said, ‘This man is my brother.’ I am innocent. I did not know what I was doing.”

⁶ Then God said to Abimelech in a dream, “Yes, I know that you are innocent. And I know that you did not know what you were doing. I saved you. I did not allow you to sin against me. I was the One who did not allow you to sleep with her.

⁷ So give Abraham his wife again. Abraham is a prophet. [112] He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not give Sarah back to Abraham, then I promise that you will die. And all your family will die with you.”

⁸ So very early the next morning, Abimelech called all his servants and told them about the dream. The servants were scared.

⁹ Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “Why have you done this to us? What wrong did I do against you? Why did you lie and say that she was your sister? You brought much trouble to my kingdom. You should not have done these things to me.

¹⁰ What were you afraid of? Why did you do these things to me?”

¹¹ Then Abraham said, “{I was afraid.} I thought no one in this place respected God. I thought someone would kill me to get Sarah.

¹² She is my wife, but she is also my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother.

¹³ God led me away from my father’s house. God led me to wander to many different places. When that happened, I told Sarah, ‘Do something for me; wherever we go, tell people you are my sister.’”

¹⁴ {Then Abimelech understood what had happened.} So Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham. Abimelech also gave Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves.

¹⁵ And Abimelech said, “Look all around you. This is my land. You may live any place you want.”

¹⁶ Abimelech said to Sarah, “I gave your brother Abraham 1,000 pieces of silver. I did this to show that I am sorry for all these things. I want everyone to see that I did the right thing.”