Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech 1 UDB Abraham left Mamre and moved southwest to the Negev desert. There he lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in the town of Gerar. 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 UDB While he was there, he told people that Sarah was his sister, not his wife. Then King Abimelech of Gerar sent some of his men to get Sarah, and they brought her to him to be his wife. BSB BSB: Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
3 UDB But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream during the night and said to him, "Listen to me! You are going to die because the woman you took is another man's wife." 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 UDB But Abimelech had not slept with her, so he said, "Lord, since the people of my nation and I are innocent, will you kill us? BSB BSB: Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent?
5 UDB Abraham told me, 'She is my sister,' and she also said, 'He is my brother.' I did not intend to do anything wrong; neither have I done anything wrong." 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 UDB God said to him, "Yes, I know that you did not want to do anything wrong. That is why I prevented you from sinning against me. I did not allow you 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 UDB Therefore, return this man's wife to her husband because he is a prophet. He will pray for you so that you may live. But if you do not return her to him, you will certainly die, and all the members of your household will also certainly die." 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 UDB Early the next morning, Abimelech summoned all his officials and told them everything that had happened. When they heard that, his men were very afraid that God would punish them. 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 UDB Abimelech then summoned Abraham, and said to him, "You should not have done that to us! Did I do something wrong to you? Did I make you want me and my people to become guilty of a great sin? You have done things to me that you should not have done! 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 UDB Why did you do this?" BSB BSB: Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do such a thing?”
11 UDB Abraham replied, "I said that she was my sister because I thought, 'The people in this place certainly do not respect God. Certainly they do whatever wrong things they wish. So they will kill me to get 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 UDB Besides, Sarah really can be considered my sister because she is the daughter of my father although she is not the daughter of my mother. She is the daughter of another woman, and I married her. 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 UDB Later, when God told me to move away from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is the way you can show that you are faithful to me: Everywhere we go, say about me, "This 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 UDB So Abimelech brought some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abraham. He also gave him some male and female slaves. Then he returned Abraham's wife Sarah to him. 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 UDB And Abimelech said to him, "Look! My land is in front of you. Live in whatever place you wish!" BSB BSB: And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
16 UDB And he said to Sarah, "Look! I am giving a thousand pieces of silver to your brother. This is to ensure that no one will bring up this matter again and say that you have done anything wrong." 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 UDB Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech's wife and his slave girls so that they could have 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 UDB This was because Yahweh had caused it to be impossible for any of the women in Abimelech's household to bear children because Abimelech had taken Abraham's wife Sarah. BSB BSB: for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.