among the Gerarites. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. For he was afraid to say, She is my wife, les tthe men of the city should kill him on her account. And Abimelech the king of the Gerarites sent and took Sarah. And God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said, Behold thou diest for this woman, whom thou hast taken; for she is the man's wife. Now Abimelech had not touched her. And Abimelech said, O Lord, wilt thou destroy an unknowing and righteous nation? Did he not tell me, She is my sister? And did not she say to me, He is my brother? With a pure heart and innocent hands I have done this. And God said to him in a dream, I know indeed that with a pure heart thou hast done this, and out of compassion I withld thee from sinning against me. For this cause I suffered thee not to touch her. NOw therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet; and he will pray for thee and thou shalt live. But if thou restore not, be assured that thou and all belonging to thee shall die. And Abimelech arose early next morning and called all his servants and related all these things in their hearing. And all the men were exceedingly terrified. Then Abimelech sent for Abraham and said to him, Why hast thou dealt thus with us? Have we in any respect sinned against thee, that thou shouldst bring up on me and upon my kingdom this great sin? Thou hast done to me what no one should do. Moreover Abimelech said to Abraham, What didst thou see that thou shouldst do this? And Abraham said, I indeed thought, as there is no worship of God in this place, they will kill me for my wife's sake. And indeed of a truth she is my sister by the same father but not of the same mother, so she became my wife. And when God led me out from my father's house I said to her, Thou wilt do me this kindness. Then Abimelech took a thousand didrachms and sheep and oxen and men servants and maid servants and gave them to Abraham, and restored to him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said to Abraham, Behold my land is before thee; dwell wherever it may please thee. And to Sarah he said, Behold I have given thy brother a thousand didrachms. Let these therefore be for thee to adorn thy countenance and for all the women with thee. Make thou
