The Holy Ivri Heritage Bible

1Avraham journeyed from there to the Negev, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. 2Avraham said of Sarah his wife: “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “She is my wife,” lest the men of the city kill him because of her. So Avimelekh king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3Elohim came to Avimelekh in a dream by night and said: “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4But Avimelekh had not approached her, and he said: “Adonai, will You slay a righteous nation? 5Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6Elohim said to him in the dream: “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and I kept you from chatoi [sinning] against Me. Therefore, I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a navi [prophet], and he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” 8Avimelekh rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told them all these things; the men were very afraid. 9Avimelekh called Avraham and said: “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me deeds that ought not to be done.” 10Avimelekh said to Avraham: “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11Avraham said: “Because I thought, surely the fear of Elohim is not in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 12Yet she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13When Elohim caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her: ‘This is the chesed [covenant kindness] you shall show me: in every place we go, say of me, He is my brother.’ 14Avimelekh took sheep, oxen, male and female servants, and gave them to Avraham, and restored Sarah his wife to him. 15Avimelekh said: “Behold, my land is before you; dwell wherever it pleases you.” 16To Sarah he said: “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand shekels [pieces] of silver. This is a vindication of your honor before all who are with you; you are cleared of reproach.” 17Avraham prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Avimelekh, his wife, and his female servants, so that they bore children. 18For Yahuah had closed up every womb in Avimelekh’s household because of Sarah, Avraham’s wife.