GENESIS CHAPTER 12 God calls Abram from his own country and kindred to Canaan, GENESIS 12:1. Promises to make of him a great and flourishing nation, and to bless in Christ his seed, GENESIS 12:2,3. Abram obeys, GENESIS 12:4. God appears to him, and promises to give Canaan to his seed; he builds an a... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BLESS THEE with all my blessings, spiritual, temporal, and eternal; (see DEUTERONOMY 7:13, DEUTERONOMY 28:2, &c.; EPHESIANS 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 sha... [ Continue Reading ]
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 GENESIS 22:18, GENESIS 26:4 28:14, i.e. in and through Christ, ACTS 3:25 GALATIANS 3:9,16,28,29; or, _for thee, _ as the Chaldee hath it, i.e. fo... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAM DEPARTED, first from Ur, and after his father's death, from Haran.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 1921_ THE SOULS, i.e. the persons, as the word _souls_ is oft used, as GENESIS 14:21, GENESIS 17:14 EXODUS 12:15 LEVITICUS 5:1 NUMBERS 23:10 DEUTERONOMY 24:7 MARK 3:4, &c. THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN; Heb. _made, _ i.e. either. 1. BEGOTTEN; for though Abram had yet no children, Lot had, and both their se... [ Continue Reading ]
SICHEM; Heb. _Sechem, _ a place afterwards so called in the mountains of Ephraim, JOSHUA 21:21 JUDGES 8:31, and here so called by anticipation. THE CANAANITE is properly so called; that cursed, cruel, impious, and idolatrous nation: see MALACHI 14:21. This is added as an aggravation of Abram's faith... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD APPEARED UNTO ABRAM, to encourage and comfort him against his wicked neighbours: see GENESIS 13:15, GENESIS 15:18 17:8 24:7 DEUTERONOMY 34:4. THERE BUILT HE AN ALTAR, a place for sacrifice, and other parts of Divine worship, erected by him both to keep his family in the true religion, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
BETH-EL, a known place, which afterwards was called _Beth-el, _ but now _Luz,_ GENESIS 28:19; a usual prolepsis, or anticipation, as before, GENESIS 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 GENESIS 13:14, GENESIS 28:14 NUMBERS 3:23... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND, or, IN THAT LAND of Canaan, a land eminently fruitful, DEUTERONOMY 8:7,8. This was partly to punish that people's sins, PSALMS 107:34, partly to try Abram's faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Because her beauty was not diminished by child-b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EGYPTIANS were a very lustful people, which made Abram more cautious.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 GENESIS 13:8. Or rather, 2. Properly, i.e. by the father's side, GENESIS 20:12. So this expression was true, but ambiguous, and intended to dece... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse. _1920_... [ Continue Reading ]
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. taken and brought, one word for... [ Continue Reading ]
To wit, by Pharaoh's gift, over and above his own; else it had been impertinent to mention it in this place.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. And if any were innocent in this matte... [ Continue Reading ]
How great an injury hast thou done to me in concealing this from me, that she was thy wife! How knew Pharaoh this? ANSW. 1. He guessed it from the quality of his plague, which also awakened his conscience. 2. Upon a serious inquiry into the cause of this plague, he understood it either by Divine i... [ Continue Reading ]
I MIGHT HAVE TAKEN HER TO ME TO WIFE; though he had another before; polygamy being then commonly practised.... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH gave them a charge concerning him for his safe conduct whither he pleased.... [ Continue Reading ]