Abraham leaves the place he had been staying. He goes to Negeb and settles down in a place located between Kadesh and Shur.

While staying in Gerar, he tells the people of the place that Sarah is his sister. And Abimelech, the king of the place takes Sarah for him. But God visits the king in a dream. Yahweh informs him that he is about to die because of the woman he has taken. She is a married woman. However, Abimelech hadn’t approached Sarah yet. He pleads with God. He wants to know if God will kill even the upright. Abraham himself told him that she is his sister. Even Sarah confirmed it. He did everything with clean hands and clear conscience, he tells God. God confirms it. He knows that the king’s conscience is clear. For this reason, He prevented him from sinning against Him. He didn’t let him touch Sarah. God then commands him to send the woman back. The man is a prophet and can pray for his life. The dream ends with God’s warning, if he doesn’t send the woman back, he and everything he owns will die.

Abimelech wakes up at dawn. He summons his full court and narrates the entire thing. The people are scared.