George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:9
Proceeding to the south, Hebrew: means also the desert, as the Septuagint generally translate negeb : other interpreters agree with the Vulgate. (Calmet) read more
Genesis 12:7-20
George Haydock
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:10
Down into Egypt, which lies lower than Judea: here the famine did not rage. God would not allow him to go back to his friends. (Menochius) read more
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:11
Beautiful: having yet had no children, though she must have been 65 years old. Abram acts with prudence, and does not tempt God: if he had made known that the woman was his wife, he would have exposed his life to imminent danger, amid a cruel and lascivious people; and being convinced of the chastity of Sarai, he did not, in the least, apprehend that she would consent to any violation of her conjugal engagements. He did not, therefore, expose her virtue as the Manichees pretended. (St.... read more
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:13
My sister. This was no lie; because she was his niece, being daughter to his brother Aran, and therefore, in the style of the Hebrews, she might truly be called his sister; as Lot is called Abraham's brother. (Genesis xiv. 14.) See Genesis xx. 12. (Challoner) --- Others say, Sarai was the half-sister of Abraham, by another mother. (Haydock) read more
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:15
Pharao: The usual title of the kings of Egypt, in Ezechiel's time, Ezechiel xxxii. 2. Couriers are often too ready to flatter the passions of the prince: these are punished along with Pharao (ver. 17); whence we may conclude, that they concurred with him, to take Sarai against her will. read more
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:16
Well. Perhaps they made him some presents to gain his favour; (Menochius) or, at least, they suffered him to remain quietly among them. read more
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:17
Scourged Pharao with unusual pains, sterility, &c. that he might easily perceive that his taking Sarai was displeasing to God. (Haydock) --- He did not intend to commit adultery indeed, but his conduct was tyrannical and oppressive to the stranger, whom God protects, Psalm 44. (Menochius) read more
George Haydock
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:20
Led him away: perhaps without allowing him time to vindicate his conduct, and with a degree of contumely, to shew the king's displeasure; who durst not, however, injure Abraham in his effects, nor suffer any of his subjects to hurt him. The holy patriarch received his wife untouched, and departed with joy. (Haydock) read more
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:6-9
6-9 Abram found the country peopled by Canaanites, who were bad neighbours. He journeyed, going on still. Sometimes it is the lot of good men to be unsettled, and often to remove into various states. Believers must look on themselves as strangers and sojourners in this world, Hebrews 11:8; Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 11:14. But observe how much comfort Abram had in God. When he could have little satisfaction in converse with the Canaanites whom he found there, he had abundance of pleasure in... read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:8
Bethel, as it was called in the days of Moses, being the ancient Luza, chap. 28. On the west , Hebrew, towards the sea or Mediterranean, which lay west of Palestine. Bethel signifies the house of God, being honoured with two altars. (Haydock) read more