THE CALL OF ABRAHAM. THE REMOVAL TO CANAAN. THE VISIT TO EGYPT 1. Had said] RV 'said,' when he was in Haran. In what manner the call came to Abraham, whether through some outward incident which he recognised as the prompting of Providence, or through the suggestions of the Divine Spirit in his inmo... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING] RV 'Be thou a blessing,' i.e. the very embodiment of blessing: blessed thyself, and the source of blessing to others.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED] or, 'bless themselves.' Through Abraham and his descendants men everywhere would come to know God as One and Holy, and to long for 'the Desire of all nations.'... [ Continue Reading ]
LOT WENT WITH HIM] Haran, Lot's father, was dead, Genesis 11:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT FORTH TO GO] Haran, the starting-place, was some 300 miles from Canaan. They would go through Syria, halting perhaps at Damascus (see Genesis 15:2), then proceeding southwards through Bashan to the fords of the Jordan S. of the Sea of Galilee, and thence to Shechem in the centre of Palesti... [ Continue Reading ]
SICHERN] RV 'Shechem.' The term 'the place of Shechem' intimates that this was an ancient sanctuary, and this is confirmed by Genesis 35:4; Dt; Genesis 11:29; Genesis 27:4; Joshua 8:33; Joshua 24:26. The 'terebinth (or turpentine tree) of the director' (as we may render PLAIN OF MOREH) points to the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD APPEARED UNTO ABRAM] see on Genesis 12:1. The faith of Abraham, in leaving Haran in obedience to the divine call, is now rewarded by the definite promise of possession of the land by his descendants. THERE BUILDED HE AN ALTAR] thus consecrating the place to God, who had there manifested Him... [ Continue Reading ]
BETH-EL] 5 m. S. of Shechem; see on Genesis 28:19. HAI] or, Ai, near Bethel.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SOUTH] or, 'the Negeb,' the district between Palestine and the wilderness N. of Sinai. It forms a transition from the cultivated land to the desert; and, though not fertile, yields much pasture for flocks; see Joshua 15:21. 10-20. Abraham's visit to Egypt. Owing to a famine, to which Palestine... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART MY SISTER] Sarah was Abraham's half-sister (Genesis 20:12). By this prevarication he doubtless thought the danger to himself would be less than if he had confessed that she was his wife.... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH] the official title of the kings of Egypt; cp. Pharaoh-Necho (2 Kings 23:29). It is the Egyptian word _Pr'o_, 'great house,' which was originally applied to the royal palace and estate, and afterwards to the king: cp. our use of the word 'Court' to designate the king and his household. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
It is usual in the East to give presents to the bride's relatives on such occasions, to make, in fact, payment for the bride; cp. Exodus 22:16; Ruth 4:10. CAMELS] It is doubtful if these were used by the ancient Egyptians. Perhaps the Semitic conquerors of Egypt may have introduced them from Asia at... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Psalms 105:14, 'He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes.'... [ Continue Reading ]