Genesis 12:14-16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 12:10-20

- XXXVIII. Abram in Egypt15. פרעה par‛oh, Par‘oh, “ouro.” Coptic for “king,” with the masculine article pi. or p. P-ouro, “the king.” If we separate the article p. from the Hebrew form, we have רעה re‛oh for king, which may be compared with רעה ro‛eh, “pastor, leader,” and the Latin rex, king. This is the common title of the Egyptian sovereigns, to which we have the personal name occasionally added, as Pharaoh-Necho, Pharaoh-Hophrah.Genesis 12:10This first visit of Abram to Mizraim, or Egypt,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:10-20

Journey to Egypt and return (12:10-13:18)A long drought in Canaan must have caused Abram to wonder just how reliable this promised land was. In the end he journeyed to Egypt in search of better pastures (10).Fearing that the Egyptians would kill him in order to take his beautiful wife, he preserved himself by saying she was his sister. This was half true, because Sarai was a daughter of Terah by another wife (see 20:12); but Abram and Sarai did wrong in telling only half the truth in order to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 12:15

Pharaoh = the official title of all kings of Egypt, like Kaiser, Czar, &c. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 12:16

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. See App-6 , emph. each class of property. All these pictured on the Monuments in Egypt. sheep, &c. No horses in Egypt till 18th Dynasty. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 12:14-15

"And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house."What a disaster this was! The mother of "the Chosen People" was at this point committed to the harem of Pharaoh and, without divine intervention, ALL of the promises to Abraham would have been lost. It was a situation that required and received a heavenly veto, something... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 12:16

"And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and menservants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels."Pharaoh loaded Abram with great wealth, intended no doubt as a kind of dowry, for the beautiful Sarai. This is an angle of the narrative that seems to be somewhat ignored. In view of the way that this episode turned out for Abraham, one can well understand why, later on, he did it again! Critics have been quick to allege that camels were not known... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 12:15

Genesis 12:15. Pharaoh— Was a common name of the AEgyptian kings; and was a title of dignity, like that of Caesar assumed by the Roman emperors, and Ptolemy afterwards among the AEgyptians. Authors disagree about the meaning of it: Josephus says, it signifies the same as king; and Ludolphus says, it imports as much as "father of his country" an appellation well suiting a monarch. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 12:16

Genesis 12:16. He entreated Abram well, &c.— Supposing Abram to be Sarai's brother, great respect was for her sake paid to him, and great presents were made him. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 12:14

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. The seat of government was in the Delta, the most northern part of the country, the very quarter in which Abram must have arrived. They were a race of shepherd-kings, in close alliance with the people of Canaan. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 12:15

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. The father or brother may deplore the removal as a calamity, but the royal right is never resisted nor questioned. read more