Gen. 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.

The Lord had said, to wit, in Ur of the Chaldees, by comparing Gen. 11:31, with Acts 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.

I will bless thee with all my blessings, spiritual, temporal, and eternal; (see Deut. 7:13, Deut. 28:2;c. Eph. 1:3) and thou shalt be, both a pattern and instrument of blessedness to others; to thy posterity, who shall be blessed for thy sake; to thy servants and friends, who shall be blessed by…

Those that are friends or enemies to thee shall be the same to me; a marvellous condescension and privilege. In thee, i.e. in thy Seed, as it is explained Gen. 22:18, Gen. 26:4, Gen. 28:14, i.e. in and through Christ, Acts 3:25, Gal. 3:9, Gal. 3:16, Gal.

Abram departed, first from Ur, and after his father’s death, from Haran.

The souls, i.e. the persons, as the word souls is oft used, as Gen. 14:21, Gen. 17:14, Ex. 12:15, Lev. 5:1, Num. 23:10, Deut. 24:7, Mark 3:4;c. That they had gotten; Heb. made, i.e. either. 1.

Sichem; Heb. Sechem, a place afterwards so called in the mountains of Ephraim, Josh. 21:21, Judg. 8:31, and here so called by anticipation. The Canaanite is properly so called; that cursed, cruel, impious, and idolatrous nation: see Zech. 14:21.

The Lord appeared unto Abram, to encourage and comfort him against his wicked neighbours: see Gen. 13:15, Gen. 15:18, Gen. 17:8, Gen. 24:7, Deut. 34:4.

Beth-el, a known place, which afterwards was called Beth-el, but now Luz, Gen. 28:19; a usual prolepsis, or anticipation, as before, Gen. 12:6. On the west; or, on the sea; which is all one, because the sea was on the west part of the land: see Gen. 13:14, Gen. 28:14, Num. 3:23, Deut. 3:27.

Removing from place to place, still hoping to meet with better neighbours, and to free himself from that perpetual vexation which he had in beholding their wickedness. Toward the south, i.e. the southern part of the land of Canaan towards Egypt.

There was a famine in the land, or, in that land of Canaan, a land eminently fruitful, Deut. 8:7–8. This was partly to punish that people’s sins, Ps. 107:34, partly to try Abram’s faith.

Quest. How could she be so fair, when she was above sixty years old? Answ. She was so both comparatively to the Egyptians, and simply in herself, and that might be from divers causes: 1. From the greater vigour of nature in that age of the world. 2.

The Egyptians were a very lustful people, which made Abram more cautious.

Say thou art my sister: so she was, either, 1. More generally, as his niece; for nephews and nieces are in Scripture called brethren and sisters, as Gen. 13:8. Or rather, 2. Properly, i.e. by the father’s side, Gen. 20:12.

The princes also of Pharaoh, i.e. the officers and courtiers; whose great design was to gain their prince’s favour by gratifying his lusts. Pharaoh was a name common to all the kings of Egypt now, and for many ages after. The woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house, i.e.

To wit, by Pharaoh’s gift, over and above his own; else it had been impertinent to mention it in this place.

Most probably with some notable distemper of his body, which did both chastise him for and hinder him in the execution of his lust. His house, i.e, his servants, who being some one way, some another, partners of his sin, are justly made partners in his plagues.

How great an injury hast thou done to me in concealing this from me, that she was thy wife! Ques. How knew Pharaoh this? Answ. 1. He guessed it from the quality of his plague, which also awakened his conscience. 2.

I might have taken her to me to wife; though he had another before; polygamy being then commonly practised.

Pharaoh gave them a charge concerning him for his safe conduct whither he pleased.