Abimelech (Abraham narrative)
King of Gerar who receives Sarah after Abraham calls her his sister and later makes a covenant with Abraham.
Abimelech (Abraham narrative) is the king of Gerar whom Abraham encounters after saying that Sarah was his sister. Abimelech sent for Sarah and took her, but God came to him in a dream and warned him concerning the married woman he had taken. The passage states that Abimelech had not approached her. Genesis 20:2 Genesis 20:3 Genesis 20:4
He summoned his servants and spoke the matter before them, then questioned Abraham about what had been done to him and his kingdom. Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, cattle, and servants, returned Sarah to him, and invited Abraham to settle in his land. Genesis 20:8 Genesis 20:9 Genesis 20:14 Genesis 20:15
After Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his maidservants; the text says that every womb in Abimelech's household had been closed because of Sarah. Later, Abimelech and Phicol, ruler of his army, spoke with Abraham. Following a dispute concerning a well seized by Abimelech's servants, Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant at Beersheba. Genesis 20:17 Genesis 20:18 Genesis 21:22 Genesis 21:25 Genesis 21:27 Genesis 21:32
This Abimelech is named in at least 16 verses in Genesis, from Genesis 20:2 to Genesis 21:32.
Key verses
Across Scripture
Genesis