Genesis 20 · a question people ask
Was Abraham telling the truth?
Genesis gives both sides without a verdict of its own. Abraham says Sarah "is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife" (20:12). But he told Abimelech only "She is my sister" (20:2), and Abimelech says he acted on those words (20:5). God tells Abimelech, "she is a man’s wife" (20:3), and Abimelech tells Abraham, "You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!" (20:9). Abraham also says this had been their plan everywhere they went (20:13).
The verses
“Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a man’s wife.””
“Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.””
“Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!””
“Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’””