Genesis 20:10-18

10 Abimelech also asked Abraham, "What were you thinking when you did this?"

11 Abraham said, "I thought that because there are no God-fearing people in this place, I'd be killed because of my wife.

12 Besides, she is my sister--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'm your brother.'"

14 Then Abimelech took sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him.

15 Abimelech said, "Look, here's my land. Live anywhere you like."

16 He said to Sarah, "Don't forget, I've given your brother 25 pounds of silver. This is to silence any criticism against you from everyone with you. You're completely cleared."

17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they could have children.

18 (The LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's household to have children because of Abraham's wife Sarah.)

Genesis 20:10-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 20

This chapter relates the removal of Abraham to Gerar, Ge 20:1; the king of Gerar's taking to him Sarah, whom Abraham had called his sister, Ge 20:2; who is rebuked of God for it in a dream, Ge 20:3; for which he makes an apology that is admitted, only he is ordered to restore to Abraham his wife, Ge 20:4-7; and accordingly early in the morning he called his servants, and acquainted them with what had happened, Ge 20:8; and then sent for Abraham, and expressed his resentment at his usage of him, Ge 20:9; which Abraham defended as well as he could, Ge 20:10-13; the issue of all which was, great kindness was shown to Abraham, and his wife restored to him, though with a reproof to her from the king, Ge 20:14-16; upon which Abraham prayed for the healing of Abimelech and his family, in which he was heard and answered, Ge 20:17,18.