Genesis 12

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:11-13

And it came to pass (literally, it was ), when he was come near to enter into Egypt (that he had his misgivings, arising probably from his own eminence, which could scarcely fail to attract attention among strangers, but chiefly from the beauty of his wife, which was calculated to inflame the cupidity and, it might be, the violence of the warm-blooded Southrons, and) that he said unto Sarai his wife . The arrangement here referred to appears ( Genesis 20:13 ) to have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:13

Abraham and carnal policy. "Say, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that it may be well with me.' These words were partially true ( Genesis 11:20 ). Abraham had real ground for saying that Sarah was his sister, but he hid the fact that she was his wife. He asked her to consent to an equivocal statement and to repeat it. I. CONTEMPLATE THE NATURE OF CARNAL POLICY . A truth which is part a lie is ever a dangerous lie. The temptation to this carnal policy came Possibly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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. The princes also— literally, and the princes ( שָׂרֵי , mas. of Sarah), chief men or courtiers, who, in accordance with the ancient custom of Egypt that no slave should approach the priestly person of Pharaoh, were sons of the principal priests ( vide Havernick, § 18)— of Pharaoh. The official title of the kings of Egypt (cf. Caesar, the designation of the Roman... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:16

And he entreated Abram well —literally, did good to Abram ; ευ} e)xrh&santo; ( LXX ; Hieronymus, Poole) supposes that the court of Pharaoh or the Egyptian people generally conferred favors on the patriarch, which is not at all so probable as that Pharaoh did— for her sake. Marriage negotiations in Oriental countries are usually accompanied by presents to the relatives of the de as a sort of payment. "The marriage price is distinctly mentioned in Scripture ( Exodus 22:15 , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:17

And the Lord plagued (literally, struck ) Pharaoh and his house with great plagues (or strokes, either of disease or death, or some other calamity—an indication that Pharaoh was not entirely innocent) because of Sarai Abram's wife . The effect of this was to lead to the discovery, not through the aid of the Egyptian priests (Josephus), but either through a special revelation granted to him, as afterwards ( Genesis 20:6 ) to Abimelech in a dream (Chrysostom), or through the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:18-19

And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me t why didst thou not tell me she was thy wife? In which case we are bound to believe the monarch that he would not have taken her. Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife (which as yet he had not done; an indirect proof both of the monarch's honorable purpose towards Sarai and of Sarai's unsullied purity): now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. According to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:20

And Pharaoh commanded his men (i.e. certain officers designated for the purpose) concerning him (to see to his departure): and they seat him away, and his wife, and all that he had. The partitionists assign this entire section to the Jehovist. HOMILETICS read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:20

Abram and Israel; a parallel. 1. Both were driven into Egypt by a famine. 2. To both the land of Egypt proved a house of bondage. 3. In each case the Pharaoh of the time was subjected to plagues. 4. Both were sent away by the alarmed monarchs who were made to suffer for their sakes. 5. Both went up from Egypt laden with the spoils of those among whom they had sojourned. 6. On leaving Egypt both directed their steps to Canaan.— W . 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

Albert Barnes

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

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