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GENESIS CHAPTER 12
God calls Abram from his own country and kindred to Canaan, Gen_12:1. Promises to make of him a great and flourishing nation, and to bless in Christ his seed, Gen_12:2,3. Abram obeys, Gen_12:4-6. God appears to him, and promises to give Canaan to his seed; he builds an altar, Gen_12:7. He removes to Beth-el, and there builds an altar, Gen_12:8. There being a famine he goes down to Egypt, Gen_12:10. He advises Sarai to equivocate, Gen_12:11-13. She is taken into Pharaoh’s house, Gen_12:15. Pharaoh kind to Abram for her sake, Gen_12:16. God plagues him because of Sarai, Gen_12:17. He calls Abram, and expostulates with him, Gen_12:18,19. Sends him safely away, Gen_12:20.
The Lord had said, to wit, in Ur of the Chaldees, by comparing Gen_11:31, with Act_7:2-4; or, did say, again, i.e. renewed the command in Haran, whilst Abram might possibly linger there, as afterwards Lot did in Sodom, longer than he should. But the former interpretation is more probable, because Moses speaks here of that command of God which came to Abram before he was gone from his
kindred and
father’s house, and therefore before he came to Haran. And this command was given to Abram either immediately, or by Shem, then the governor of God’s church.
From thy father’s house; from the family of Nachor, which was now become idolatrous, Gen_31:30 Jos_24:2; and consequently their society was dangerous and pernicious; and therefore God mercifully snatcheth him as a brand out of the fire.
A land that I will show thee; which as yet he nameth not, for the greater trial and exercise of Abram’s faith and patience: compare Isa_41:2 Heb_11:8.