Setting: Genesis 20:1
I was a young man when the drought was severe in the land and we sojourned in Egypt. Well, I am still a young man, but I was a younger man then, not yet ten years old.
I suppose I was old enough, though, to know that Sarai was a beautiful woman.
I remember when we passed by Gerar and the king of that land, Abimelech, came out to meet us. Even though it was a famine, he gave us cheeses and bread and blessed us as we hastened to Egypt.
I was very impressed with Abimelech, for he was very tall and he spoke with a great booming voice, and he smiled at me and rustled my hair, which I never forgot. I remember that he also had a beautiful wife at his side, as did Abram. And I wished that I could be a king like these great men, but I knew that I never could.
I was excited when I heard that we were to go to the land of Gerar again. I wanted to see what the city must be like, who had such a king.
We journeyed south many days, and I was certain that we were nowhere near Gerar, but in the middle of the vast Negev, and I did not understand why we sojourned here when it was said that we were going to Gerar. But once our flocks were fat and healthy we did at last turn north, and approached that town of which I dreamed.
The town is not massive, but it does have an impressive migdol at its center, where donkeys and other animals are sacrificed daily to Adonai. It is always a pleasure to dwell with brothers who share our religion.
I heard languages in Gerar that I feel sure I had never heard before, and I saw strange men in the marketplaces selling pottery from distant lands across the sea.
Abraham and Abimelech went out to meet each other, and I was not far off from them, and I saw them embrace and kiss one another. And I saw Abimelech kiss the hand of Sarah as well, and the men talked and laughed for some time as they sat opposite one another in the center of town, feasting on a lamb that had been offered that day at the migdol.
Abraham and Abimelech went out to meet each other, and I was not far off from them, and I saw them embrace and kiss one another. And I saw Abimelech kiss the hand of Sarah as well, and the men talked and laughed for some time as they sat opposite one another in the center of town, feasting on a lamb that had been offered that day at the migdol.