Genesis 12:14-19 NIV

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 12:14

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:19

Why saidst thou, she is my sister ?.... He could not imagine what could be the reason of it, what could induce him to give out such a story as this; for he knew not the fears that Abram was possessed with, which led him to it, and which might be in a good measure groundless, or else Pharaoh might have guessed at the reason; or this he said as being willing to be satisfied of the true one: so I might have taken her to me to wife ; ignorantly, and without any scruple, supposing her to have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:15

The woman was taken into Pharaoh's house - Pharaoh appears to have been the common appellative of the Cuthite shepherd kings of Egypt, who had conquered this land, as is conjectured, about seventy-two years before this time. The word is supposed to signify king in the ancient Egyptian language. If the meaning be sought in the Hebrew, the root פרע para signifies to be free or disengaged, a name which such freebooters as the Cuthite shepherds might naturally assume. All the kings of Egypt... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:17

The Lord plagued Pharaoh - What these plagues were we know not. In the parallel case, Genesis 20:18 , all the females in the family of Abimelech, who had taken Sarah in nearly the same way, were made barren; possibly this might have been the case here; yet much more seems to be signified by the expression great plagues. Whatever these plagues were, it is evident they were understood by Pharaoh as proofs of the disapprobation of God; and, consequently, even at this time in Egypt there was... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 12:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:15

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 12:17

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