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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 12:14-20

Here is, I. The danger Sarai was in of having her chastity violated by the king of Egypt: and without doubt the peril of sin is the greatest peril we can be in. Pharaoh's princes (his pimps rather) saw her, and, observing what a comely woman she was, they commended her before Pharaoh, not for that which was really her praise?her virtue and modesty, her faith and piety (these were no excellencies in their eyes), but for her beauty, which they thought too good for the embraces of a subject. They... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:16

And he entreated Abram well for her sake ,.... Pharaoh was very complaisant to him, showed him great respect, and bestowed many favours on him on account of Sarai, whom he took to be his sister, and which were done, that he would consent that she might be his wife: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels ; which were, some at least, if not all, the gifts of Pharaoh to him, or otherwise there seems to be no reason why they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:16

He had sheep, and oxen, etc. - As some of these terms are liable to be confounded, and as they frequently occur, especially in the Pentateuch, it may be necessary to consider and fix their meaning in this place. Sheep; צאן tson , from tsaan , to be plentiful or abundant; a proper term for the eastern sheep, which almost constantly bring forth twins, Song of Solomon 4:2 , and sometimes three and even four at a birth. Hence their great fruitfulness is often alluded to in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:10-20

The Church and the world. The genesis of intercourse and controversy between the kingdom of God and the world power, as represented in the great southern kingdom of Egypt. I. THE PRESSURE OF EARTHLY NECESSITIES FORMS THE OCCASION OF THE SOJOURN IN EGYPT . We are not told that Abram was sent by Divine direction amongst the temptations of the South; still there is providential protection even where there is not entire Divine approval. The Lord suffers his people to... 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

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

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 12:16

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 12:16

"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 12:16

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

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