Abimelech (Gen 20:2)
A person of the age of the patriarchs, first named at Genesis 20:2.
Where in scripture
GenesisAbraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Genesis 20:2
There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar.
Genesis 26:1
When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife.
Genesis 26:8
Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister?’” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die because of her.’”
Genesis 26:9
Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!”
Genesis 26:10
Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”
Genesis 26:11
Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
Genesis 26:16
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army.
Genesis 26:26
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
In their own words — 10 recorded sayings
“Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, Lord, will you put to death an upright nation? Did he not say to me himself, She is my sister? and she herself said, He is my brother: with an upright heart and clean hands have I done this.” — Genesis 20:4-5
“Then Abimelech sent for Abraham, and said, What have you done to us? what wrong have I done you that you have put on me and on my kingdom so great a sin? You have done to me things which are not to be done. And Abimelech said to Abraham, Why did you do this thing?” — Genesis 20:9-10
“And Abimelech said, See, all my land is before you; take whatever place seems good to you. And he said to Sarah, See, I have given to your brother a thousand bits of silver so that your wrong may be put right; now your honour is clear in the eyes of all.” — Genesis 20:15-16
“Now at that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the captain of his army, said to Abraham, I see that God is with you in all you do. Now, then, give me your oath, in the name of God, that you will not be false to me or to my sons after me, but that as I have been good to you, so you will be to me and to this land where you have been living.” — Genesis 21:22-23
“But Abimelech said, I have no idea who has done this thing; you never gave me word of it, and I had no knowledge of it till this day.” — Genesis 21:26
“Then Abimelech said, What are these seven lambs which you have put on one side?” — Genesis 21:29
“And he said to Isaac, It is clear that she is your wife: why then did you say, She is my sister? And Isaac said, For fear that I might be put to death because of her.” — Genesis 26:9
“Then Abimelech said, What have you done to us? one of the people might well have had connection with your wife, and the sin would have been ours. And Abimelech gave orders to his people that anyone touching Isaac or his wife was to be put to death.” — Genesis 26:10-11
…and 2 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).