What does Genesis 20:13 mean?
Abraham continues his explanation to Abimelech about why he lied about Sarah being his sister. First, Abraham admitted he was afraid that someone would kill him to take Sarah. Next, he revealed that Sarah was, after all, his half-sister. Finally, he claims that telling this lie has been a strategy they have used ever since they began traveling away from the safety of their homeland. More specifically, Abraham says that he asked Sarah to participate in this lie as a kindness to him.As details appear, it becomes harder for us to sympathize with Abraham in this situation. He is admitting, here, that he has repeatedly asked Sarah to put herself in harm's way in order to save his own life. In addition, this is only the second time Scripture has mentioned him doing this when coming to a new place (Genesis 12:12–13). So, is Abraham lying about it being their normal routine? Or has it happened in other places, as well? We don't know.
This is the end of Abraham's explanation to Abimelech, as unsatisfying as it must have been.