Genesis 12:1-5

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:4

So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him ,.... Or, "when the Lord had spoken to him", as Cocceius renders the words; when he had called him a second time, even when in Haran, immediately after the death of his father Terah; as soon as ever the words were spoken to him before recorded, he immediately prepared and got all things ready for his journey, and departed from Haran, as he had done before from Ur of the Chaldees: and Lot went with him ; of his own accord, and he only,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:5

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son ,.... The son of Haran his brother, not against their wills, but with their full consent: Sarai went readily with him, not only as being his wife, and so obliged by the law of marriage and tie of relation, but on the score of religion; and Lot as being a good man, and so willing to go with him, as his near relation too, for the sake of religion. And all their substance that they had gathered ; either in Ur of the Chaldees, or in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:1

Get thee out of thy country - There is great dissension between commentators concerning the call of Abram; some supposing he had two distinct calls, others that he had but one. At the conclusion of the preceding chapter, Genesis 11:31 , we find Terah and all his family leaving Ur of the Chaldees, in order to go to Canaan. This was, no doubt, in consequence of some Divine admonition. While resting at Haran, on their road to Canaan, Terah died, Genesis 11:32 ; and then God repeats his call... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:2

I will make of thee a great nation - i.e., The Jewish people; and make thy name great, alluding to the change of his name from Abram, a high father, to Abraham, the father of a multitude. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:3

In thee - In thy posterity, in the Messiah, who shall spring from thee, shall all families of the earth be blessed; for as he shall take on him human nature from the posterity of Abraham, he shall taste death for every man, his Gospel shall be preached throughout the world, and innumerable blessings be derived on all mankind through his death and intercession. read more

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