About the Book
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Chapter Analysis
Chapter 12: The Call of Abram
Background History and Timeline:Â Genesis, traditionally attributed to Moses, was written around the 15th century BCE. It covers events from the creation of the world to the patriarchs of Israel.
Locations Mentioned:Â The chapter primarily focuses on Abram's journey from Ur to Canaan.
Themes and Conflicts:Â Genesis 12 marks the beginning of the Abrahamic covenant and the call of Abram (later renamed Abraham) to leave his homeland and journey to the land that God promised to give him. It introduces themes of faith, obedience, and the fulfillment of divine promises.
Main Characters:Â Abram (Abraham), Sarai (Sarah), and God are the main characters in this chapter.
Specific Passages:
Genesis 12:1-3: "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'"
Genesis 12:7: "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him."
Explanation:Â Genesis 12 recounts God's call to Abram to leave his homeland and journey to the land of Canaan, where God promises to make him into a great nation and bless him. Abram demonstrates faith and obedience by obeying God's command and embarking on the journey with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot.
The chapter marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, as God initiates His covenant with Abram, which will ultimately lead to the establishment of the nation of Israel. It sets the stage for the unfolding narrative of God's redemptive plan through the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Genesis 12 marks a significant progression in the biblical narrative, shifting the focus from the universal scope of humanity to the specific calling of Abram and the beginnings of the covenantal relationship between God and His chosen people.
Moses is traditionally attributed as the author of Genesis, including Chapter 12.
Religious Text
Gen 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that | will show you. Gen 12:2 And | will make of you a great nation, and | will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Gen 12:3 | will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you | will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Gen 12:4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Gen 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Gen 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring | will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Gen 12:8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. Gen 12:9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. Gen 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. Gen 12:11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, Gen 12:12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Gen 12:13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake." Gen 12:14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. Gen 12:15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. Gen 12:16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. Gen 12:17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. Gen 12:18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Gen 12:19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,’ so that | took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go." Gen 12:20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.