Genesis 20 explained: Abraham's Half Truth in Gerar

The same trick again (vv. 1-2)

Abraham moves south to Gerar and once more says Sarah is his sister, just as he did in Egypt in chapter 12. The local king takes her to become one of his wives, something powerful rulers of the time could simply do.

God warns the king (vv. 3-7)

In a dream God tells Abimelek he faces death for taking a married woman, and accepts the king's protest that he acted in good faith, adding that God himself kept him from touching her. Abraham is called a prophet here, the first time the Bible uses that word, meaning someone close to God whose prayers carry weight.

The king confronts Abraham (vv. 8-10)

Abimelek tells his terrified officials, then asks Abraham why he put a whole kingdom at risk of such guilt. The outsider speaks calmly and fairly, while the man God chose is the one in the wrong.

Abraham's excuse (vv. 11-13)

Abraham says he assumed these people had no respect for God and would kill him to take his wife. Sarah really is his half sister, but the words were still meant to deceive, and he admits they had planned this everywhere they went.

Gifts and a public clearing (vv. 14-16)

Abimelek returns Sarah, gives Abraham livestock, servants and a thousand pieces of silver, a very large sum, and invites him to settle anywhere. The wording of verse 16 is hard to translate, but it most likely means a public sign that Sarah was innocent and her honor restored.

Prayer and healing (vv. 17-18)

Abraham prays, and the women of the king's household can bear children again, since the LORD had kept them from conceiving while Sarah was there. Many readers note the timing, just before Sarah gives birth to Isaac, as God protecting the promised family line despite Abraham's failure.

Key verse: Genesis 20:6

Something to think about

Abraham assumed the people of Gerar had no conscience and turned out to be wrong; what do you think drives people to expect the worst of strangers, and how often does that expectation hold up?