TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 20
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1Avraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was sojourning in Gerar,
va-yi-SA mi-SHAM av-ra-HAM AR-tzah ha-NE-gev va-YAY-shev bayn ka-DAYSH u-VAYN SHUR va-YA-gor big-RAR
אוַיִּסַּ֨ע מִשָּׁ֤ם אַבְרָהָם֙ אַ֣רְצָה הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בֵּין־קָדֵ֖שׁ וּבֵ֣ין שׁ֑וּר וַיָּ֖גׇר בִּגְרָֽר׃
20:1 Avraham journeyed from there
Scripture does not provide any reason for Avraham’s travels. Consequently, Rabbi David Kimchi, a medieval commentator and grammarian known as the Radak, posits that Avraham travels in order to dwell in the different parts of the land that Hashem gave to him. By residing in various places, even for short periods of time, Avraham thereby adds his own effort to acquire the breadth and width of the land promised to him. In this way, Avraham is fulfilling God’s command “walk about the land” (Genesis 13:17). Saddened by the loss of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Avraham wonders if the destruction could have been prevented by his presence there. He resolves to reach further areas in Eretz Yisrael.
2Avraham said of Sara his wife, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sara brought to him.
va-YO-mer av-ra-HAM el sa-RAH ish-TO a-KHO-tee HEE va-yish-LAKH a-vee-ME-lekh ME-lekh g'-RAR va-yi-KAKH et sa-RAH
בוַיֹּ֧אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־שָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ גְּרָ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־שָׂרָֽה׃
20:2 So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sara brought to him
Although Sara was taken captive by both Pharoah (Genesis 12:19) and Abimelech, her courage and bravery inspired many Jewish women over the centuries, especially those who carried her name. Sarah Braverman, the “first lady of the IDF,” was born in Romania in 1918, and arrived in Israel when she was 20 years old. Upon her arrival, she immediately joined the Jewish liberation movement. Braverman was one of the first women to join “Palmach,” the special fighting forces of the Haganah and one of the forerunners of the Israeli army. Braverman was chosen to be one of three women in a group of 37 Palmach fighters to take part in the 1943 parachuting mission behind enemy lines into Nazi Europe. After the creation of the State of Israel, Braverman helped establish the IDF Women’s Corps. Sarah Braverman truly lived up to her namesake, the original Sara. She was a brave and devoted Jewish heroine, who put her life on the line time and again to protect and defend her people.
Sarah Braverman (1918-2013)
IDF Women’s Corp, 1953
3But Hashem came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “You are to die because of the woman that you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
vai-YA-voh e-lo-HEEM el a-vee-MEKH ba-kha-LOM ha-la-y'-LAH, vai-YO-mer LO: hi-NE-kha mayt al ha-i-SHA a-SHER la-KAKH-ta, v'-HEE b'-u-LAT ba-AL
גוַיָּבֹ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ בַּחֲל֣וֹם הַלָּ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הִנְּךָ֥ מֵת֙ עַל־הָאִשָּׁ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־לָקַ֔חְתָּ וְהִ֖וא בְּעֻ֥לַת בָּֽעַל׃
4Now Abimelech had not approached her. He said, “O Hashem, will You slay people even though innocent?
va-a-vee-ME-lekh lo ka-RAB e-LE-ha, va-YO-mer a-do-NAI: ha-GOY gam-tza-DEEK ta-ha-ROG
דוַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ לֹ֥א קָרַ֖ב אֵלֶ֑יהָ וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אֲדֹנָ֕י הֲג֥וֹי גַּם־צַדִּ֖יק תַּהֲרֹֽג׃
5He himself said to me, ‘She is my sister!' And she also said, ‘He is my brother.' When I did this, my heart was blameless and my hands were clean.”
ha-LO hu a-MAR-li, a-KHO-ti HI, v'-HI-gam-HU a-M'-RAH, a-KHI HU, b'-TOM l'-va-VEE, u-v'-nik-YON ka-PAI a-see-TEE ZOT
ההֲלֹ֨א ה֤וּא אָֽמַר־לִי֙ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֔וא וְהִֽיא־גַם־הִ֥וא אָֽמְרָ֖ה אָחִ֣י ה֑וּא בְּתׇם־לְבָבִ֛י וּבְנִקְיֹ֥ן כַּפַּ֖י עָשִׂ֥יתִי זֹֽאת׃
6And Hashem said to him in the dream, “I knew that you did this with a blameless heart, and so I kept you from sinning against Me. That was why I did not let you touch her.
vai-YO-mer e-LAV ha-e-lo-HEEM ba-kha-LOM gam a-NO-khee ya-da-TEE kee ve-TAM l'-va-VE-kha a-SEE-ta ZOT va-e-KHOSHK gam a-NO-khee o-T'-KHA may-kha-TO-LEE al-KEN lo n'-ta-TEE-kha lin-GO-a e-LE-ha
ווַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ אֵלָ֨יו הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים בַּחֲלֹ֗ם גַּ֣ם אָנֹכִ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ כִּ֤י בְתׇם־לְבָבְךָ֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּ֔את וָאֶחְשֹׂ֧ךְ גַּם־אָנֹכִ֛י אֽוֹתְךָ֖ מֵחֲטוֹ־לִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֥ן לֹא־נְתַתִּ֖יךָ לִנְגֹּ֥עַ אֵלֶֽיהָ׃
7Therefore, restore the man's wife—since he is a navi, he will intercede for you—to save your life. If you fail to restore her, know that you shall die, you and all that are yours.”
v'-a-TAH ha-SHEV e-SHET ha-ISH, KEE na-VEE HU, v'-yit-pa-LAYL ba-aD'-KHA v'-kha-YEH. v'-IM a-EN-KHA may-SHEEV, DA KEE-MOT ta-MU-T, a-TAH v'-KOL a-SHER-LAKH.
זוְעַתָּ֗ה הָשֵׁ֤ב אֵֽשֶׁת־הָאִישׁ֙ כִּֽי־נָבִ֣יא ה֔וּא וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל בַּֽעַדְךָ֖ וֶֽחְיֵ֑ה וְאִם־אֵֽינְךָ֣ מֵשִׁ֔יב דַּ֚ע כִּי־מ֣וֹת תָּמ֔וּת אַתָּ֖ה וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
8Early next morning, Abimelech called his servants and told them all that had happened; and the men were greatly frightened.
vai-YASH-kem a-vee-ME-lekh ba-BO-ker va-yik-RA l'-KOL a-va-DAV va-y'-da-BER et-KOL ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh b'-o-z'-NE-hem va-yi-RE-u ha-a-na-SHEEM m'-OD
חוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּקְרָא֙ לְכׇל־עֲבָדָ֔יו וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בְּאׇזְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּֽירְא֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים מְאֹֽד׃
9Then Abimelech summoned Avraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What wrong have I done that you should bring so great a guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.
vai-YIK-ra a-vee-ME-lekh l'-av-ra-HAM, vai-YO-mer LO: meh-a-SEE-ta LA-nu, u-meh-cha-ta-TEE LAKH, kee he-VE-ta a-LAI v'-al mam-lakh-TEE cha-ta-AH g'-do-LAH, ma-a-SEEM a-SHER lo ye-a-SU, a-SEE-ta i-ma-DEE
טוַיִּקְרָ֨א אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ לְאַבְרָהָ֗ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ מֶֽה־עָשִׂ֤יתָ לָּ֙נוּ֙ וּמֶֽה־חָטָ֣אתִי לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־הֵבֵ֧אתָ עָלַ֛י וְעַל־מַמְלַכְתִּ֖י חֲטָאָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֑ה מַעֲשִׂים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יֵֽעָשׂ֔וּ עָשִׂ֖יתָ עִמָּדִֽי׃
10What, then,” Abimelech demanded of Avraham, “was your purpose in doing this thing?”
vai-YO-mer a-vee-ME-lekh el a-vra-HAM: ma ra-EE-ta, KEE a-see-TA et ha-da-VA ha-ZEH
יוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם מָ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ כִּ֥י עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
11“I thought,” said Avraham, “surely there is no fear of Hashem in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.
vai-YO-mer a-vra-HAM, KEE a-MAR-tee RAK AYN yir-AT e-lo-HEEM ba-ma-KOM ha-ZEH, va-ha-ra-GU-nee al d'-VAR ish-TEE
יאוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי רַ֚ק אֵין־יִרְאַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַהֲרָג֖וּנִי עַל־דְּבַ֥ר אִשְׁתִּֽי׃
12And besides, she is in truth my sister, my father's daughter though not my mother's; and she became my wife.
v'-GAM a-M'NA a-KHO-tee vat a-VEE HEE, AKH lo vat i-MEE va-t'-HEE-lee l'-i-SHAH
יבוְגַם־אׇמְנָ֗ה אֲחֹתִ֤י בַת־אָבִי֙ הִ֔וא אַ֖ךְ לֹ֣א בַת־אִמִּ֑י וַתְּהִי־לִ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
13So when Hashem made me wander from my father's house, I said to her, ‘Let this be the kindness that you shall do me: whatever place we come to, say there of me: He is my brother.'”
vai-HI ka-a-SHER hit-U o-TI e-lo-HEEM mi-BAYT a-VEE, va-o-MAR LAH, ZEH khas-DEKH a-SHER ta-a-SEE i-ma-DEE, el KOL ha-ma-KOM a-SHER na-VO sha-MAH, im-REE-LEE a-KHEE HU
יגוַיְהִ֞י כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְע֣וּ אֹתִ֗י אֱלֹהִים֮ מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֒ וָאֹמַ֣ר לָ֔הּ זֶ֣ה חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשִׂ֖י עִמָּדִ֑י אֶ֤ל כׇּל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָב֣וֹא שָׁ֔מָּה אִמְרִי־לִ֖י אָחִ֥י הֽוּא׃
14Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Avraham; and he restored his wife Sara to him.
vai-YI-kakh a-vee-ME-lekh tzo-AN u-va-KAR va-a-va-DEEM u-she-fa-KHOT vai-YI-ten l'-av-ra-HAM vai-YA-shev LO et sa-RAH ish-TO
ידוַיִּקַּ֨ח אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֗ר וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיָּ֣שֶׁב ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת שָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
15And Abimelech said, “Here, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”
vai-YO-mer a-vee-ME-lekh, hi-NEH ar-TZI l'-fa-NE-kha, ba-TOV b'-ay-NE-kha, SHEV
טווַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה אַרְצִ֖י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ בַּטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ שֵֽׁב׃
16And to Sara he said, “I herewith give your brother a thousand pieces of silver; this will serve you as vindication before all who are with you, and you are cleared before everyone.”
u-l'-sa-RA a-MAR, hi-NEH na-TA-tee e-LEF ke-SEF l'-a-KHEEKH, hi-NEH HU-lakh ke-SUT e-NA-yim l'-KOL a-SHER i-TAKH, v'-ET KOL v'-no-KHA-khat
טזוּלְשָׂרָ֣ה אָמַ֗ר הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֜תִּי אֶ֤לֶף כֶּ֙סֶף֙ לְאָחִ֔יךְ הִנֵּ֤ה הוּא־לָךְ֙ כְּס֣וּת עֵינַ֔יִם לְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתָּ֑ךְ וְאֵ֥ת כֹּ֖ל וְנֹכָֽחַת׃
17Avraham then prayed to Hashem, and Hashem healed Abimelech and his wife and his slave girls, so that they bore children;
vai-yit-pa-LAYL av-ra-HAM el ha-e-lo-HEEM, vai-yir-PA e-lo-HEEM et a-vee-ME-lekh v'-et ish-TO v'-am-ho-TAV, vai-YAY-le-DU
יזוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּרְפָּ֨א אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֧לֶךְ וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃
18for Hashem had closed fast every womb of the household of Abimelech because of Sara, the wife of Avraham.
ki-a-TZOR a-TZAR a-do-NAI b'-AD kol RE-khem l'-VEYT a-vee-ME-lekh al d'-VAR sa-RAH e-SHET av-ra-HAM.
יחכִּֽי־עָצֹ֤ר עָצַר֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעַ֥ד כׇּל־רֶ֖חֶם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל־דְּבַ֥ר שָׂרָ֖ה אֵ֥שֶׁת אַבְרָהָֽם׃
