Chapter 20

1

AND at that time Avraham journeyed from the plain of Mamre, and he went to the land of the Pelishtiym, and he dwelt in Gerar; it was in the twenty fifth year of Avraham's being in the land of Kena`an, and the hundredth year of the life of Avraham, that he came to Gerar in the land of the Pelishtiym.

2

And when they entered the land he said to Sarah his woman, Say you are my sister, to anyone that shall ask you, in order that we may escape the evil of the inhabitants of the land.

3

And as Avraham was dwelling in the land of the Pelishtiym, the servants of Aviymelek, king of the Pelishtiym, saw that Sarah was exceedingly beautiful, and they asked Avraham concerning her, and he said, She is my sister.

4

And the servants of Aviymelek went to Aviymelek, saying, A man from the land of Kena`an is come to dwell in the land, and he has a sister that is exceeding fair.

5

And Aviymelek heard the words of his servants who praised Sarah to him, and Aviymelek sent his officers, and they brought Sarah to the king.

6

And Sarah came to the house of Aviymelek, and the king saw that Sarah was beautiful, and she pleased him exceedingly.

7

And he approached her and said to her, What is that man to you with whom you did come to our land? and Sarah answered and said He is my brother, and we came from the land of Kena`an to dwell wherever we could find a place.

8

And Aviymelek said to Sarah, Behold my land is before you, place your brother in any part of this land that pleases you, and it will be our duty to exalt and elevate him above all the people of the land since he is your brother.

9

And Aviymelek sent for Avraham, and Avraham came to Aviymelek.

10

And Aviymelek said to Avraham, Behold I have given orders that you shall be honored as you desire on account of your sister Sarah.

11

And Avraham went forth from the king, and the king's present followed him.

12

As at evening time, before men lie down to rest, the king was sitting upon his throne, and a deep sleep fell upon him, and he lay upon the throne and slept till morning.

13

And he dreamed that an angel of Yahuah came to him with a drawn sword in his hand, and the angel stood over Aviymelek, and wished to slay him with the sword, and the king was terrified in his dream, and said to the angel, In what have I sinned against you that you come to slay me with your sword?

14

And the angel answered and said to Aviymelek, Behold you die on account of the woman which you did yesternight bring to your house, for she is a married woman, the woman of Avraham who came to your house; now therefore return that man his woman, for she is his woman; and should you not return her, know that you will surely die, you and all belonging to you.

15

And on that night there was a great outcry in the land of the Pelishtiym, and the inhabitants of the land saw the figure of a man standing with a drawn sword in his hand, and he smote the inhabitants of the land with the sword, yea he continued to smite them.

16

And the angel of Yahuah smote the whole land of the Pelishtiym on that night, and there was a great confusion on that night and on the following morning.

17

And every womb was closed, and all their issues, and the hand of Yahuah was upon them on account of Sarah, woman of Avraham, whom Aviymelek had taken.

18

And in the morning Aviymelek rose with terror and confusion and with a great dread, and he sent and had his servants called in, and he related his dream to them, and the people were greatly afraid.

19

And one man standing amongst the servants of the king answered the king, saying, O sovereign king, restore this woman to her man, for he is her man, for the like happened to the king of Mitsrayim when this man came to Mitsrayim.

20

And he said concerning his woman, She is my sister, for such is his manner of doing when he comes to dwell in the land in which he is a stranger.

21

And Phar'oh sent and took this woman for a woman and Yahuah brought upon him grievous plagues until he returned the woman to her man.

22

Now therefore, O sovereign king, know what happened yesternight to the whole land, for there was a very great consternation and great pain and lamentation, and we know that it was on account of the woman which you did take.

23

Now, therefore, restore this woman to her man, lest it should befall us as it did to Phar'oh king of Mitsrayim and his subjects, and that we may not die; and Aviymelek hastened and called and had Sarah called for, and she came before him, and he had Avraham called for, and he came before him.

24

And Aviymelek said to them, What is this work you have been doing in saying you are brother and sister, and I took this woman for a woman?

25

And Avraham said, Because I thought I should suffer death on account of my woman; and Aviymelek took flocks and herds, and menservants and maidservants, and a thousand pieces of silver, and he gave them to Avraham, and he returned Sarah to him.

26

And Aviymelek said to Avraham, Behold the whole land is before you, dwell in it wherever you shall choose.

27

And Avraham and Sarah, his woman, went forth from the king's presence with honor and respect, and they dwelt in the land, even in Gerar.

28

And all the inhabitants of the land of the Pelishtiym and the king's servants were still in pain, through the plague which the angel had inflicted upon them the whole night on account of Sarah.

29

And Aviymelek sent for Avraham, saying, Pray now for your servants to Yahuah Elohaykem, that he may put away this mortality from amongst us.

30

And Avraham prayed on account of Aviymelek and his subjects, and Yahuah heard the prayer of Avraham, and he healed Aviymelek and all his subjects.



Back to top