Overview of Genesis 12

Genesis 12 has three sections: 12:1–3, the call and the promises; 12:4–9, Abram enters Canaan and builds altars; and 12:10–20, famine and the sojourn in Egypt. 11:27–32 and 13:1–4 are read only as context. The move from Ur as far as Haran, and Terah’s death there, are pointed to in the Genesis 11 notes and are not treated again here; see Terah, and the move from Ur. The Lord tells Abram to go from his land, his kindred, and his father’s house to the land he will show him, and promises a nation, a name, blessing, and, in 12:7, the land to his offspring. Abram goes, as the Lord has spoken, at seventy-five, from Haran into Canaan, to Shechem, Bethel, and the Negev. A famine takes him down to Egypt; Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s house; the Lord afflicts Pharaoh’s household, and they are sent away. The promises are God’s initiative; the great name of 12:2 stands against the self-made name of 11:4 (see A name, and not to be scattered). The persons are real; see the persons-and-history notes at Genesis 5 and Genesis 7. God protects Sarai and Abram in Egypt. When and where the Lord first spoke, how the blessing of 12:3 is to be read, the sister ruse, and the Egypt episode are taken up in the notes that follow; no verdict is given on those points here.