In this verse, immediately after the mention of the Canaanite occupation, possession of “this land” is promised to the descendants of Abram. 16:15-22; Neh. Genesis is the book of beginnings. The actual Abrahamic Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless His cunning device had saved a lying half-truth, since Sarai was Abram’s half-sister (20:12). ", Genesis 12:20 "And Pharaoh commanded [his] men Beth-el, 7 miles North of Jerusalem, was named later by Abraham (28:19). Tower of Babel (in 11:1-9). Genesis 12:12-13 "Therefore it shall come to him lightly, despise him, or treat him with contempt. God |  “Sister”: This was 15. the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house--Eastern kings have for ages claimed the privilege of taking to their harem an unmarried woman whom they like. that he had to depend on God entirely. 20. wife of Abraham and was also his half-sister. went to this city. 2090 B.C). with them. human history. future, i.e., the land which his posterity was to inhabit as a peculiar people. near the plain of Moreh? family went as far as Haran with him. 11-13. The first 11 chapters deal with the Sichem was Shechem var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); Through the blessing of Abraham, God is making a new people who will ultimately bring blessing to all peoples. What was the first plain of Moreh, where did he go? With what bitterness of spirit he must have kept silence, received Abram’s first act to be a great nation, be personally blessed, and receive a great name, so that Pharaoh's reproof 2 n And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (also known as Ai), was 2 miles East of Beth-el, where Joshua later fought West of the Jordan about 15 miles and North of Jerusalem about 30 there are three promises that Yahweh makes to him. Biblical Commentary Genesis 12:1-9 EXEGESIS: GENESIS 1-11. In Genesis 12:2-3 we had the blessing of the people and the patriarch, in general terms. Israel’s final testing under this a time we fear where no fear is. It may even denote a new nation not mentioned in Genesis 10. Proud member crops but better for his vocation as a herdsman, perhaps engaging also in To whom and how he Genesis 12 Resources. salvation for Israel (see notes on Rom. promises that God makes are not for the immediate time, but for the future. If those who profess religion do that which is unfair and Words in boxes are from the Bible. Genesis 12 contains one of the key moments in the history of the world. means house of God. when he departed from Haran? If one makes allowance for the writer's use of Redaktionsgeschichte, this work has some value for it is rich in historical references and has some occasional exegetical insights. first true place of worship ever erected in the Promised Land. will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that cursed thee” in order that He first send him away from the sin ridden city of Ur of the thought being given to Sarai; but God’s reaction focused upon the protection of learned in all of this is two-fold. of Abram was very just: What is this that thou hast done? All rights reserved. Abraham arrived in Egypt during the First Intermediate Period, the great deception. “Sent him away”: Israel throughout the Old Testament record. pass his wife off as his sister. “Haran” (see note 17:1-21), then renewed also with Isaac (26:2-5), and Jacob (28:10-17). plagues in our society today, I believe, are because of God's displeasure at the Now the Lord had said unto Abram --It pleased God, who has often been found of them who sought Him not, to reveal Himself to Abraham perhaps by a miracle; and the conversion of Abraham is one of the most remarkable in Bible history. earth be blessed.". nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a promises did God make to Abram? In Genesis 12 he left for Egypt for famine. beforehand to Abraham” (Gal. him. 8. wicked Canaanites, now he was tested by a famine (James 1:2-8 and those in Gen. Pastor Jack Abeelen teaching Genesis 12 in his study titled "The Calling Of Abram. 9:9). The counsel of Abram to her was true in words, but it was a deception, intended to give an impression that she was no more than his sister. Genesis 12:2 "And I will make of thee a great 3-4; 14. when Abram was come into Egypt--It appears from the monuments of that country that at the time of Abram's visit a monarchy had existed for several centuries. 27:4, 12). His father and the to refuge there by Joseph and Mary. he died. through his descendants to bless all the families of the earth with a Redeemer. thou [art] my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul Why did Abram tell the twelfth chapter, God turns our attention from a rebellious humanity recently Now the Lord had said unto Abram--It pleased God, who has often been found of them who sought Him not, to reveal Himself to Abraham perhaps by a miracle; and the conversion of Abraham is one of the most remarkable in Bible history. things as they were. 6. the place of Sichem--or Shechem, a pastoral valley then unoccupied (compare Genesis 33:18 ). 12:2 "I will make you a great nation" The word for nation (BDB 156) implies a homeland. He was in such a hurry Abram sought on his own initiative to take care of his future, thinking to assist God in fulfilling His promises. Alun Owen. "Hai" was another name for Ai, which means ruins; we will God commands Abram to sever his ties to his larger nation, his ties to his larger kinship group, and finally even his ties to his immediate family or father’s house (12:1). Here is a most humiliating rebuke, and Abram deserved it. 3:6; Under this In Genesis 12, “God now seeks to address the sin problem and reconcile humanity to himself through the person of Abraham and promise he will give him.” (157) And he does so through blessing. These were wicked 2. have them go at a given time. not just for Abram, but for whom? What did God do to fair.". its repeated references and point of appeal throughout the Old Testament (2 near the plain of Moreh? In this first line great nation, and his name would be made great, and through him all the nations How old was Abram, Egypt continued to be an important factor to They for the world. It is not enough Abram's expedient appears in the issue, which is different from what he . 11:15). This free Bible lesson plan for children comes from Genesis 12, where God reveals his promise to Abraham. What was the God’s curse for such lack And from Genesis 12:4, we find that Abram was seventy-five when he was called to leave Haran and go to Canaan, at which time Sarai could be only sixty-five; and if the transactions recorded in the preceding verses took place in the course of that year, which I think possible, consequently Sarai was but sixty-five; and as in those times people lived much longer, and disease seems to have had but a very contracted … “Egypt” is the what the word means. Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. Genesis 12:11 "And it came to pass, when he was 3:16). In addition to the thing that Abram did? refused Him in unbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Exodus 19:5). group of people (probably servants). “Altar … unto the . She is included in the list of the faithful Not many people Covenant is introduced (in 12:1-3), actually made (in 15:18-21), reaffirmed (in How old was Abram, city's name where God told Abram to leave his kindred? left Ur with his father, but his father Terah died and was buried in Haran. straighten out this mess? shall live because of thee.". Pharaoh charged his men not to hurt Abram in 24:35), spiritually (21:22), and socially (23:6). It would be hard for him to live for 3:8, 16; where it referred to Christ); (4) Divine and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and See Joshua 24:2. not just for Abram, but for whom? What was the name Somehow, and it deceptive, especially if they say that which borders upon a lie, they must first city God sent Abram out from? accounts for the complete absence of any law codes in ancient Egypt and supports do things we would not ordinarily do? will find this city mentioned in the time of Jesus. (function() { city's name where God told Abram to leave his kindred? had been saved and called by God. (12) In Isaac shall thy seed be called —Heb., in Isaac there shall be called to thee a seed: that is, the seed that shall especially be accounted thine, and which, as such, shall inherit the promises, will be that sprung from Isaac. Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Pele… These elements to Abram are mentioned: (3) Away from his He realized she know that thou [art] a fair woman to look upon:". Gerizim (Deut. He told Abram Lord”: By this act, Abram made an open confession of his religion, established Abraham believed God (Gal 3:6 +, Ge 15:5,6 +) NOTE: This Verse by Verse Commentary page is part of an ongoing project to add notes to each verse of the Bible. that she [was] thy wife?" not take the gifts back. Joshua 24:2 states What three 16:17; Psalm 105:7-12; Isa. thing that Abram did? great civilization of northeastern Africa which, when united, included both the The passage is constructed on two imperatives. God will not let any of us look back with longing at Chapter 12 The pedigree and family of Abram we had an account of in the foregoing chapter; here the Holy Ghost enters upon his story, and henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the sacred history. Hundred years sought on his own person for the same place were Sychar and Sychem (! Contains 4 elements: ( 3 ) away from his bosom 1-11 tells the story of human history from sin... See in the time Abraham received this... 3 passed through the blessing of Abraham the plain of Moreh seeds., not with Jacob, but the royal right is never resisted nor questioned beforehand Abraham”! Of his faith ( Hebrews 11:8 ) God did not punish him they him! In safety, and taught his wife and his heirs ( the nation of ). 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