Genesis 12:11-20 KJV

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 12:11

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt ,.... Just entering into it, having travelled from the mountain between Bethel and Hai, two hundred and forty miles F16 Travels of the Holy Patriarchs, &c.; p. 56. ; or when he "caused to come near" F17 כאשר הקריב "quum admoveret, sub tentorium", so some in Vatablus; "familiam", Munster. , either his camp, as Aben Ezra supplies it, or his tent, or his family, as others: that he said unto Sarai his wife,... read more

John Gill

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

Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee ,.... Who were a lustful people, and whose eyes would soon be fastened upon, and be taken with the beauty of Sarai: that they shall say, this is his wife ; this beautiful woman is such a man's wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive ; so great a regard had they in those times, and even in Heathen countries, to the laws of marriage, that they chose rather to be guilty of murder than of adultery,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:13

Say, I pray thee, that thou art my sister ,.... Which though it was not putting a direct lie into her mouth, she being his sister in some sense, as appears from Genesis 20:12 yet it was done to conceal truth, and to deceive the Egyptians, and tended to endanger his wife's chastity, as well as showed great timorousness in him, and distrust of the divine care and protection of him; and upon the whole it must be criminal in him, and shows that the best of men are liable to sin, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:14

And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt ,.... To the city of Heliopolis; for there it was that Abram had his abode, as Eupolemus F18 Apud Euseb. ut supra. (Praepar. Evangel. c. 17. p. 418,419.) says, when upon the famine he went into Egypt, and where he conversed with the Egyptian priests, and taught them astrology, and other things belonging to it; and of this descent of Abram into Egypt, and teaching astrology, Artapanus F19 Apud ib. c. 18. p. 420. , another... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:15

The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh ,.... The king of Egypt; so it seems by this, that Abram and Sarai were at the place where the court was kept, which the Arabic writers F20 In the Universal History, vol. 2. p. 115. say was Mesr (or Memphis), the capital of the kingdom. And these princes were the king's courtiers, who taking notice of Sarai, and admiring her beauty, praised her for it to the king, and recommended her to be taken into the number of... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:17

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues ,.... Perhaps with the same sort that Abimelech and his servants were smote with on a like account, Genesis 20:17 . The Jews F8 Jarchi in loc. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 41. fol. 35. 4. say they were smitten with ulcers; not only Pharaoh was plagued, but those of his household also, his courtiers and servants, who were accessary to the bringing of Sarai into his house; for all this was because of Sarai, Abram's wife ; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:18

And Pharaoh called Abram, and said ,.... Understanding how it was, that Sarai was his wife, which he came at the knowledge of, either by consulting his priests and diviners, as some say, on account of the plagues inflicted; or rather suspecting they were on the account of Sarai, from the nature of them, sent for her, and questioned her about this affair, who confessed the whole matter to him; unless it can be thought that he was warned of God in a dream, as Abimelech was on a like occasion;... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:11

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:15

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:18

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