Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech 1 Brenton And Abraam removed thence to the southern country, and dwelt between Cades and Sur, and sojourned in Gerara. BSB BSB: Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,
2 Brenton And Abraam said concerning Sarrha his wife, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife, lest at any time the men of the city should kill him for her sake. So Abimelech king of Gerara sent and took Sarrha. BSB BSB: Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
3 Brenton And God came to Abimelech by night in sleep, and said, Behold, thou diest for the woman, whom thou hast taken, whereas she has lived with a husband. BSB BSB: One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
4 Brenton But Abimelech had not touched her, and he said, Lord, wilt thou destroy an ignorantly sinning and just nation? BSB BSB: Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
5 Brenton Said he not to me, She is my sister, and said she not to me, He is my brother? with a pure heart and in the righteousness of my hands have I done this. BSB BSB: Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6 Brenton And God said to him in sleep, Yea, I knew that thou didst this with a pure heart, and I spared thee, so that thou shouldest not sin against me, therefore I suffered thee not to touch her. BSB BSB: Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
7 Brenton But now return the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die and all thine. BSB BSB: Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
8 Brenton And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and he spoke all these words in their ears, and all the men feared exceedingly. BSB BSB: Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.
9 Brenton And Abimelech called Abraam and said to him, What is this that thou hast done to us? Have we sinned against thee, that thou hast brought upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done to me a deed, which no one ought to do. BSB BSB: Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
10 Brenton And Abimelech said to Abraam, What hast thou seen in me that thou hast done this? BSB BSB: Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
11 Brenton And Abraam said, Why I said, Surely there is not the worship of God in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife. BSB BSB: Abraham replied, “I thought to myself, ‘Surely there is no fear of God in this place. They will kill me on account of my wife.’
12 Brenton For truly she is my sister by my father, but not by my mother, and she became my wife. BSB BSB: Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father—though not the daughter of my mother—and she became my wife.
13 Brenton And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness thou shalt perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother. BSB BSB: So when God had me journey from my father’s house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is how you can show your loyalty to me: Wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14 Brenton And Abimelech took a thousand pieces of silver, and sheep, and calves, and servants, and maid-servants, and gave them to Abraam, and he returned him Sarrha his wife. BSB BSB: So Abimelech brought sheep and cattle, menservants and maidservants, and he gave them to Abraham and restored his wife Sarah to him.
15 Brenton And Abimelech said to Abraam, Behold, my land is before thee, dwell wheresoever it may please thee. BSB BSB: And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
16 Brenton And to Sarrha he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, those shall be to thee for the price of thy countenance, and to all the women with thee, and speak the truth in all things. BSB BSB: And he said to Sarah, “See, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is your vindication before all who are with you; you are completely cleared.”
17 Brenton And Abraam prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his women servants, and they bore children. BSB BSB: Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
18 Brenton Because the Lord had fast closed from without every womb in the house of Abimelech, because of Sarrha Abraam's wife. BSB BSB: for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.