Bible-Story
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
When there was a famine in the land of Canaan,
Abram went to live in Egypt for a time, because the famine was very bad.
When
Abram was going to arrive in Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘Listen to me. I
know that you are a very beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you, they will
say, “This is Abram's wife.” Then they will kill me, but they will let you
live. So, tell them that you are my sister. Then they will do good things to
me, because they want to please you. They will not kill me because they will
think that you are my sister.’
When
Abram arrived in Egypt, the people saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.
The king's officers saw her. They told Pharaoh that she was very beautiful.
They took her to the king's palace.
Pharaoh
did good things to help Abram because of Sarai. He gave Abram sheep, cows,
donkeys and camels. He also gave Abram male servants and female servants.
But
the Lord made Pharaoh and the people in his palace very ill. The Lord did this
because the king had taken Abram's wife Sarai. So, Pharaoh called Abram to come
to him. Pharaoh said, ‘You have done this bad thing to me! You did not tell me
that Sarai is your wife! Why not? You told me “She is my sister”. As a result,
I took her to be my wife. Now, here is your wife. Take her and go away!’
Pharaoh
told his officers what to do with Abram. They sent Abram away, with his wife
and everything that belonged to them.
