Genesis 12:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:4

So (literally, and) Abram departed —from Ur of the Chaldees, or from Haran ( vide supra )— as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him . Lot's name being repeated here because of his connection with the ensuing narrative. And Abram was seventy and five years old —literally, a son of five years and seventy years (cf. Genesis 7:6 )— when he departed —literally, in his going forth upon the second stage of his journey— from Haran . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:4

The Chaldaean emigrant. I. THE CALL OF GOD . Whether spoken in a dream or distinctly articulated by a human form, the voice which summoned Abram to emigrate from Ur was recognized by the patriarch to be Divine; and so is the gospel invitation, which through the medium of a written word has been conveyed to men, essentially a message from the-lips of God. The call which Abram received was— 1. Distinguishing and selecting— coming to him alone of all the members of Terah's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:5

And Abram took (an important addition to the foregoing statement, intimating that Abram did not go forth as a lonely wanderer, but accompanied by) Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all the substance — recush , acquired wealth, from racash , to gain (cf. Genesis 14:11 , Genesis 14:16 , Genesis 14:21 ; Genesis 15:14 ), which consisted chiefly in cattle, Lot and Abram being nomads— that they had gathered (not necessarily implying a protracted stay, as some allege), ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:6

And Abram passed through —literally, passed over, or traveled about as a pilgrim (cf. Hebrews 11:9 ) in— the land unto (or as far as) the place of Sichem . A prolepsis for the place where the city Shechem (either built by or named after the Hivite prince, Genesis 34:2 ) was afterwards situated, viz; between Ebal and Gerizim, in the middle of the land; "the most beautiful, perhaps the only very beautiful, spot in Central Palestine" (Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' 5:234). The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:6-9

Revelations. We here enter upon the more special history of Divine appearances. Hitherto the word is described simply as a word—"The Lord said;" now we connect with the word distinct appearances. The plain of Moreh will be ever memorable as the first scene of such revelations. The altar which Abram erected was to the Lord who appeared unto him, i.e. in commemoration of the vision. Thus the long line of theophanies commences. The great lesson of this record is the worship of man... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:6-10

The promised land. I. WANDERINGS . Entering Canaan from the north, the Chaldsean emigrant directs his progress steadily towards the south, removing from station to station till he reaches the furthest limit of the land. This wandering life to the patriarch must have been II. TRIALS . Along with ceaseless peregrinations, more or less exacting in their nature, trials of another and severer sort entered into the texture of the patriarch's experience in the promised land. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:7

And the Lord appeared . The first mention of a theophany, though Acts 7:2 alleges that such a Divine manifestation had previously occurred in Ur of the Chaldees. Though not a direct vision of Jehovah ( John 1:18 ), that there was some kind of outward appearance may be inferred from the subsequent Divine manifestations to the patriarch ( Genesis 18:2 , Genesis 18:17 , Genesis 18:33 ; Genesis 22:11-18 ), to Hagar ( Genesis 16:7-14 ; Genesis 21:17 , Genesis 21:18 ), and to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:7

Abraham worshipping. "And there he builded an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him." Abraham is at length Divinely informed that he is in the land hereafter to be his. He was at the spot where the great temple, to be set up by his descendants, would stand. Here he builds an altar. It was doubtless a very plain altar of rough stones, but large enough for the sacrifices to be offered. It would have little attraction in the eyes of many, but it would be approved of by God. I. IT ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 12:1-9

- The Call of Abram6. שׁכם shekem Shekem, “the upper part of the back.” Here it is the name of a person, the owner of this place, where afterward is built the town called at first Shekem, then Flavia Neapolis, and now Nablous. אלון 'ēlôn “the oak;” related: “be lasting, strong.” מורה môreh In Onkelos “plain;” Moreh, “archer, early rain, teacher.” Here the name of a man who owned the oak that marked the spot. In the Septuagint it is rendered ὑψηγήν hupseegeen.8. בית־אל bēyt-'êl, Bethel,... 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

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