Study Desk

Now Abraham journeyed from ^(a)there toward the land of ^(b)the ^[a]Negev, and ^[b]settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in ^(c)Gerar.

Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "^(d)She is my sister." So ^(e)Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

^(f)But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, ^(g)you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is ^[c]married."

Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, ^(h)will You slay a nation, even though ^[d]blameless?

Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister'? And she ⁽ⁱ⁾herself said, ‘He is my brother.' In ^(j)the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my ^[e]hands I have done this."

Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also ^[f](k)kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.

Now therefore, restore the man's wife, for ^(l)he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours."

So Abimelech arose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened.