Bible Chapter Summary
Genesis 20 Summary
Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech in Gerar
Abraham travels to Gerar, where he again identifies Sarah as his sister, leading Abimelech the king to take her into his household. God intervenes by appearing to Abimelech in a dream, declaring him a dead man for taking another man's wife, but also acknowledging that Abimelech acted in ignorance and had not come near her. God commands Abimelech to restore Sarah to Abraham, identifying Abraham as a prophet whose prayer will preserve Abimelech's life. Abimelech confronts Abraham, who explains his fear and discloses that Sarah is truly his half-sister; Abimelech then returns Sarah, compensates Abraham generously, and Abraham prays for Abimelech's household, whereupon God lifts the affliction of barrenness He had imposed upon it.
Key themes
Key verses
Genesis 20:3
“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.”
Genesis 20:6
“And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.”
Genesis 20:7
“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.”
Genesis 20:17
“So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.”
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