Genesis20

Abraham journeyed to Gerar and again presented Sarah as his sister, leading King Abimelech to take her. God intervened in a dream, warning Abimelech and commanding him to return Sarah, identifying Abraham as a prophet. Abimelech complied, restoring Sarah with gifts, and Abraham prayed, leading to God healing Abimelech's household, whose wombs had been closed.

Abraham Deceives Abimelech in Gerar

1
Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar. ​
2
Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. ​

God Warns Abimelech in a Dream

3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man’s wife.” ​
4
Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? ​
5
Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.”
6
God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. ​
7
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” ​

Abimelech Confronts Abraham

8
Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!” ​
10
Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
11
Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ ​
12
Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. ​
13
When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Sarah Restored; Abraham Compensated

14
Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him. ​
15
Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
16
To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.” ​

Abraham Intercedes for Abimelech

17
Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children. ​
18
For the LORD had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. ​

Study Notes for Genesis 20

Verse 1

Abraham moves south after the events of Sodom (Gen 19). This is the second recorded instance of Abraham attempting this deception (cf. Gen 12), showing a recurring lack of faith despite God's recent covenant promises.

Verse 2

The repetition of this scheme highlights Abraham’s ongoing spiritual immaturity and reliance on human cunning rather than trusting God’s explicit protection for the covenant line.

Verse 3

God directly intervenes to protect Sarah, the vessel of the covenant promise, and to prevent the pagan king Abimelech from committing a mortal sin unknowingly.

Verse 4

Abimelech asserts his innocence, highlighting that he acted without malicious intent. He raises the theological question of corporate punishment, asking if God would destroy a nation acting righteously out of ignorance.

Verse 6

God confirms Abimelech's 'integrity of thy heart' and stresses that He actively intervened ('I also withheld thee') to prevent the king from violating the divine moral law. This demonstrates God's sovereign control over human actions.

Verse 7

This is the first time the title 'prophet' (*navi*) is used in the Bible. A prophet is defined here as God’s representative who speaks for Him and intercedes on behalf of others.

Verse 9

Abimelech’s accusation is potent; he recognizes that Abraham, the supposed man of God, introduced a 'great sin' (a moral catastrophe) into his kingdom. The righteous pagan confronts the faithless patriarch.

Verse 11

Abraham’s justification reveals his primary fear: a lack of faith in God's protection, leading him to assume the worst about the inhabitants of Gerar and act deceptively.

Verse 12

Abraham offers a partial truth as justification. Sarah was indeed his half-sister, making the claim technically correct but still morally culpable because it was used intentionally to mislead and save his own life.

Verse 14

Abimelech acts honorably, returning Sarah and offering substantial gifts. This demonstrates his fear of the powerful God who had intervened and his desire to rectify the mistake.

Verse 16

The 'thousand pieces of silver' served as compensation and a public declaration that Sarah was fully vindicated and recognized as a married woman ('a covering of the eyes') before all witnesses.

Verse 17

Despite his recent moral failure, Abraham fulfills the prophetic role assigned to him (v. 7). God honors the prayer of intercession, demonstrating grace and restoring the relationship.

Verse 18

The closure of the wombs was the visible manifestation of divine judgment, confirming to Abimelech and his household the severity of the offense and the power of Abraham’s God.

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