Genesis 12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12

A.M. 2083. B.C. 1921. From henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the sacred history. In this chapter we have, ( 1,) God’s call of Abram to the land of Canaan, Genesis 12:1-3 . (2,) Abram’s obedience to this call, Genesis 12:4-5 . (3,) His welcome to the land of Canaan, Genesis 12:6-9 . (4,) His occasional remove into Egypt, with an account of what happened to him there. Abram’s flight and fault, 10-13. Sarai’s danger and deliverance, Genesis 12:14-20 . read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:1

Genesis 12:1. We have here the call whereby Abram was removed from, the land of his nativity into the land of promise. This call was designed both to try his faith and obedience, and also to set him and his family apart for God, in order that the universal prevalence of idolatry might be prevented, and a remnant reserved for God, among whom his true worship might be maintained, his oracles preserved, and his ordinances established till the coming of the Messiah. God seems also, by sending him... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:2

Genesis 12:2. I will make of thee a great nation When God took him from his own people, he promised to make him the head of another people. This promise was both a great relief to Abram’s burden, for he had now no child, and a great trial to Abram’s faith, for his wife had been long barren; so that if he believe, it must be against hope, and his faith must build purely upon that power which “can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham.” I will bless thee Either particularly with the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:3

Genesis 12:3. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed This promise crowned all the rest; for it pointed at the Messiah, “in whom all the promises are yea and amen.” Now, with what astonishing exactness has God fulfilled these promises, and yet how unlikely it was, at the time they were made, that they should be fulfilled! Surely we need no other proof that the historian wrote by inspiration of God! read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:4

Genesis 12:4. So Abram departed He was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. His obedience was speedy and without delay, submissive and without dispute. So should ours be to him who says, “Deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow me.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:5

Genesis 12:5. They took with them the souls that they had gotten That is, the proselytes they had made, and persuaded to worship the true God, and to go with them to Canaan; the souls which (as one of the rabbis expresseth it) they had “gathered under the wings of the Divine Majesty.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:6

Genesis 12:6. The Canaanite was then in the land He found the country possessed by Canaanites, who were likely to be but bad neighbours; and for aught appears, he could not have ground to pitch his tent on but by their permission. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:7

Genesis 12:7. And the Lord appeared to Abram Probably in a vision, and spoke to him comfortable words: Unto thy seed will I give this land No place or condition can shut us out from God’s gracious visits. Abram is a sojourner, unsettled, among Canaanites, and yet here also he meets with him that lives, and sees him. Enemies may part us and our tents, us and our altars, but not us and our God. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:8

Genesis 12:8. And there he built an altar, and called on the name of the Lord Such, it appears, was his constant practice, whithersoever he removed. As soon as he came into Canaan, though he was but a stranger and sojourner there, yet he set up, and kept up the worship of God in his family; and wherever he had a tent, God had an altar, and that sanctified by prayer. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 12:10

Genesis 12:10. And there was a famine in the land Not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites, but to exercise the faith of Abram. Now he was tried whether he could trust the God that brought him to Canaan, to maintain him there, and rejoice in him as the God of his salvation, when the fig-tree did not blossom. And Abram went down into Egypt See how wisely God provides, that there should be plenty in one place, when there is scarcity in another; that, as members of the great body,... read more

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