Genesis 12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 12

Chapter 12 The pedigree and family of Abram we had an account of in the foregoing chapter; here the Holy Ghost enters upon his story, and henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the sacred history. In this chapter we have, I. God's call of Abram to the land of Canaan, Gen. 12:1-3. II. Abram's obedience to this call, Gen. 12:4, 5. III. His welcome to the land of Canaan, Gen. 12:6-9. IV. His journey to Egypt, with an account of what happened to him there. Abram's flight... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 12:1-3

We have here the call by which Abram was removed out of the land of his nativity into the land of promise, which was designed both to try his faith and obedience and also to separate him and set him apart for God, and for special services and favours which were further designed. The circumstances of this call we may be somewhat helped to the knowledge of from Stephen's speech, Acts 7:2; where we are told, 1. That the God of glory appeared to him to give him this call, appeared in such displays... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 12:4-5

Here is, I. Abraham's removal out of his country, out of Ur first and afterwards out of Haran, in compliance with the call of God: So Abram departed; he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but did as he was bidden, not conferring with flesh and blood, Gal. 1:15, 16. His obedience was speedy and without delay, submissive and without dispute; for he went out, not knowing whither he went (Heb. 11:8), but knowing whom he followed and under whose direction he went. Thus God called him to... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 12:6-9

One would have expected that Abram having had such an extraordinary call to Canaan some great event should have followed upon his arrival there, that he should have been introduced with all possible marks of honour and respect, and that the kings of Canaan should immediately have surrendered their crowns to him, and done him homage. But no; he comes not with observation, little notice is taken of him, for still God will have him to live by faith, and to look upon Canaan, even when he was in... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 12:10-13

Here is, I. A famine in the land of Canaan, a grievous famine. That fruitful land was turned into barrenness, not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites who dwelt therein, but to exercise the faith of Abram who sojourned therein; and a very sore trial it was; it tried what he would think, 1. Of God that brought him thither, whether he would not be ready to say with his murmuring seed that he was brought forth to be killed with hunger, Exod. 16:3. Nothing short of a strong faith could... read more

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

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 12 In this chapter an account is given of the call of Abram to depart from his own country, with a promise of a divine blessing, Genesis 12:1 of his obedience to it, Genesis 12:4 of his journey through the land of Canaan, and of the Lord's appearance to him in it, and his promise of it to his seed, and of Abram's building altars in it, and calling on the name of the Lord, Genesis 12:6 and of a famine there, which occasioned him to go into Egypt, Genesis 12:10... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:1

Now the Lord had said unto Abram ,.... In Ur of the Chaldees, before he came and dwelt in Charran, as seems from Acts 7:2 and so Aben Ezra interprets it; but Jarchi and others think, that what follows was said to him in Haran, and so the words may be more literally rendered F21 ויאמר "et dixit", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius. , "and the Lord said unto Abram"; after the death of Terah, who died in Haran; and indeed it is highly probable there were two appearances of God to Abram, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation ,.... In a literal sense, as the people of the Jews were that descended from him, and in a spiritual sense believers in all ages and of all nations, that walk in the steps of the faith of Abram, who are his children, and are blessed with him: and I will bless thee ; not only with temporal blessings, but principally with spiritual ones, since Abram in person had no share of the land of Canaan; even with the adoption of children and friendship with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:3

And I will bless them that bless thee ,.... Not the priests only that should bless his children, the children of Israel, as the Targum of Jonathan, but all men of all nations, and of every age, that speak well of him, commend him for his faith and holiness, and tread in his steps, these are blessed with faithful Abraham, Galatians 3:7 . And curse him that curseth thee ; here is a change of numbers, before the plural, here the singular, denoting, it may be, that many would bless him,... read more

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