A king of Gerar, he was told by Abraham that Sarah, Abraham's wife, wasAbraham's sister. Aft er Abimelech took Sarah into his harem, he waswarned in a dream that Sarah was actually Abrah am's wife, and that histaking Sarah was the cause of temporary sterility among Abimelech'speo ple and flocks. Indignant at Abraham's deceit, Abimelech sent Sarahback to her husband, gav e him gifts, and asked him to leave. Later,after a squabble over a well, Abraham and Abimele ch made a treaty atBeersheba. (Everyone in the Bible, by William P. Barker, 1966)