Genesis 12:7-20

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 12:18

18-20. Here is a most humiliating rebuke, and Abram deserved it. Had not God interfered, he might have been tempted to stay in Egypt and forget the promise (Psalms 105:13; Psalms 105:15). Often still does God rebuke His people and remind them through enemies that this world is not their rest. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:1-9

The divine promises 12:1-9"These verses are of fundamental importance for the theology of Genesis, for they serve to bind together the primeval history and the later patriarchal history and look beyond it to the subsequent history of the nation." [Note: Wenham, Genesis 1-15, p. 274.] "Whereas chapters 1-11 generally portray man’s rebellion, chapters 12-50 detail God’s bringing man into a place of blessing." [Note: Ross, "Genesis," p. 25.] ". . . this is the central passage of the Book of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:4-9

Abram’s response 12:4-9 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:7

In response to God’s promise to give Abram the land where he stood the patriarch built an altar and worshipped Yahweh. This was Abram’s characteristic response to God’s grace. Abram’s altars were more permanent structures than his tents. He continued living as a pilgrim and stranger in a land that he did not yet possess (Hebrews 11:9-10).Critics of the historicity of the patriarchal narratives ("minimalists") have tried to prove that the religion of the patriarchs differed greatly from Mosaic... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:8

Abram proceeded south and encamped between Bethel and Ai (probably et Tell [Note: Peter Briggs, "Testing the Factuality of the Conquest of Ai Narrative in the Book of Joshua," a paper presented at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Colorado Springs, Col., Nov. 15, 2001.] ) just north of Salem (Jerusalem). Again he built an altar to worship Yahweh and called on His name in worship. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:9

He next continued south toward the Negev (lit. dry), perhaps because of a shortage of food for his grazing animals (Genesis 12:10).The nation of Israel in Moses’ day shared the same call that God had extended to Abram. She was to leave her place of residence, Egypt, and go to a Promised Land to worship and serve God there with the promise of blessing. This required faith. We have a similar calling. Believers who walk by faith will forsake much to become part of God’s program to bless the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:10-20

2. Abram in Egypt 12:10-20The second crisis Abram faced arose because of a famine in Canaan. Abram chose to sojourn in the Nile Valley until it ended. In this incident Abram misrepresented Sarai because he feared for his life. By doing so, he jeopardized his blessing since he lost his wife temporarily to Pharaoh. However, Yahweh intervened to deliver Abram and Sarai from Egypt."The account of Abraham’s ’sojourn’ in Egypt bears the stamp of having been intentionally shaped to parallel the later... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:1-20

The Call of Abraham. The Removal to Canaan. The Visit to Egypt1. Had said] RV ’said,’ when he was in Haran. In what manner the call came to Abraham, whether through some outward incident which he recognised as the prompting of Providence, or through the suggestions of the Divine Spirit in his inmost soul, we do not know. Anyhow he regarded it as divine and authoritative, and it was too definite tobe misunderstood. Get thee out of.. and from.. and from] The repetition emphasises the complete... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:1-34

The History of AbrahamAt this point the specific purpose of the writer of the Pentateuch begins to appear more clearly. Speaking generally, that purpose is to trace the development of the kingdom of God in the line of Israelitish history. To this subject the preceding chapters of Genesis have formed an introduction, dealing with universal history, and indicating the place of Israel among the other nations of the world. The narrative now passes from universal history to the beginnings of the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 12:7

(7) The Lord appeared unto Abram.—This is the first time that any appearance of the Deity is men tioned. Always previously the communications between God and man had been direct, without the intervention of any visible medium. Thus, God commanded Adam (Genesis 2:16); Adam and Eve heard His voice (Genesis 3:8), and He called them (Genesis 3:9); He said unto Cain (Genesis 4:6-9); unto Noah (Genesis 6:13; Genesis 7:1), and spake unto him (Genesis 8:15; Genesis 9:8): but henceforward we read... read more

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 12:18

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:1-9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:4-9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 12:10-20

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:1-20

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:1-34

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 12:7

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