What does Genesis 20:15 mean?
Years before this, Abraham had lied about Sarah, causing the Pharaoh of Egypt to take her as a wife. When the Pharaoh realized what had happened, he immediately returned Sarah (Genesis 12:18–19). At the same time, he immediately had his men escort Abraham and his family out of Egypt (Genesis 12:20). That Pharaoh didn't want to be anywhere near a people whose God brought plagues on his household.Now, after a very similar lie from Abraham results in almost the same consequences, king Abimelech has a different response. In addition to returning Sarah, along with gifts of herds, flocks, and servants, the king of Gerar offers to allow Abraham to settle anywhere in his kingdom that he would like.
It's hard to imagine he was happy with Abraham. More likely, the king was eager for Abraham to pray for him and for his household so that they would live. It's also possible that Abimelech wanted to prove his good intentions to the Lord.
Genesis 20:1–18 describes what happens when Abraham once again moves to a new place and insists on lying that Sarah is merely his sister and not his wife. Abimelech, the king of Gerar, takes Sarah as one of his wives. He is soon struck with an illness and visited in a dream with a warning from God that he will die if he doesn't return Sarah to Abraham and if Abraham doesn't pray for him. Sarah is returned untouched, Abraham prays, and all are healed.
Here, Abraham practically duplicates one of the oddest episodes in his earlier life. As he did with the Egyptians in Genesis chapter 12, Abraham moves through a new area and claims that Sarah is his sister. The king of Gerar, Abimelech, takes Sarah for one of his wives, but he is soon struck ill. God appears and tells Abimelech he will die for taking a married woman. Abimelech insists he did not know and has not slept with Sarah. The Lord says that if he returns her, and if Abraham prays for them, all will be healed.
