1Abraham traveled from there to the Negev region, settling between Kadesh and Shur and living temporarily in Gerar.
2Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, the king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.
3But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman."
4Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, "Lord, would you destroy even an innocent nation?
5Didn't he tell me, 'She is my sister?' And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.
6God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience. I also kept you from sinning against me; that's why I didn't let you touch her.
7Now, give the man his wife back. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't return her, know for sure that you and everyone close to you will die."
8Abimelech got up early in the morning, called all his servants, and told them everything that had happened. The men were very frightened.
9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you so that you have brought such a great sin on me and my kingdom? You have done things that should never be done!"
10Abimelech asked Abraham, "What were you thinking when you did this?"
11Abraham replied, "I thought, 'Surely people here don't respect God, and they will kill me to get my wife.'
12Besides, she really is my sister, my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter; and she became my wife.
13When God made me leave my father's house and wander, I said to her, 'Do me this favor: everywhere we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'
14Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; he also returned Sarah, Abraham's wife, to him.
15Abimelech said, "Look, my land is available to you. Live wherever you wish."
16To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother 1,000 pieces of silver. This is to clear your name in front of everyone who is with you. You are completely cleared."
17Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they were able to have children.
18This was because Yahweh had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's household to have children, all because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.