Genesis 12:10-12

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:10

And there was a famine in the land ,.... The land of Canaan, which was a very fruitful country, abounding with all kind of provisions usually; but now there was a scarcity of all; and which was both for the sins of the inhabitants of the land, and for the trial of Abram's faith, who was brought out of his own country, where was bread enough and to spare, into one in which there was a famine; and this might be a temptation to Abram to return from whence he came, and to slight and despise the... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:10

There was a famine in the land - Of Canaan. This is the first famine on record, and it prevailed in the most fertile land then under the sun; and why? God made it desolate for the wickedness of those who dwelt in it. Went down into Egypt - He felt himself a stranger and a pilgrim, and by his unsettled state was kept in mind of the city that hath foundations that are permanent and stable, whose builder is the living God. See Hebrews 11:8 , Hebrews 11:9 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:11

Thou art a fair woman to look upon - Widely differing in her complexion from the swarthy Egyptians, and consequently more likely to be coveted by them. It appears that Abram supposed they would not scruple to take away the life of the husband in order to have the undisturbed possession of the wife. The age of Sarai at this time is not well agreed on by commentators, some making her ninety, while others make her only sixty-five. From Genesis 17:17 , we learn that Sarai was ten years younger... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:10

Verse 10 10.And there was a famine in the land. A much more severe temptation is now recorded, by which the faith of Abram is tried to the quick. For he is not only led around through various windings of the country, but is driven into exile, from the land which God had given to him and to his posterity. It is to be observed, that Chaldea was exceedingly fertile; having been, from this cause, accustomed to opulence, he came to Charran, where, it is conjectured, he lived commodiously enough,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:11

Verse 11 11.He said unto Sarai his wife. He now relates the counsel which Abram took for the preservation of his life when he was approaching Egypt. Andy since this place is like a rock, on which many strike; it is proper that we should soberly and reverently consider how far Abram was deserving of excuse, and how he was to be blamed. First, there seems to be something of falsehood, mixed with the dissimulations which he persuades his wife to practice. And although afterwards he makes the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:12

Verse 12 12.Therefore it shall come to pass, that when the Egyptians shall see thee, etc. It may seem that Abram was unjust to the Egyptians, in suspecting evil of them, from whom he had yet received no injury. And, since charity truly is not suspicious; he may appear to deal unfairly, in not only charging them with lust, but also in suspecting them of murder. I answer, that the holy man did, not without reason, fear for himself from that nation, concerning which he had heard many unfavourable... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 12:6-10

The promised land. I. WANDERINGS . Entering Canaan from the north, the Chaldsean emigrant directs his progress steadily towards the south, removing from station to station till he reaches the furthest limit of the land. This wandering life to the patriarch must have been II. TRIALS . Along with ceaseless peregrinations, more or less exacting in their nature, trials of another and severer sort entered into the texture of the patriarch's experience in the promised land. The... read more

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