Genesis 12
The Obedience of Abram
12:1 Now the
“Go out3 from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household
to the land that I will show you.4
12:2 Then I will make you5 into a great nation, and I will bless you,6
and I will make your name great,7
so that you will exemplify divine blessing.8
12:3 I will bless those who bless you,9
but the one who treats you lightly10 I must curse,
and all the families of the earth will bless one another11 by your name.”
12:4 So Abram left,12 just as the
12:6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree19 of Moreh20 at Shechem.21 (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)22
12:7 The
12:8 Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel25 and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the
The Promised Blessing Jeopardized
12:10 There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt29 to stay for a while30 because the famine was severe.31 12:11 As he approached32 Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look,33 I know that you are a beautiful woman.34 12:12 When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will keep you alive.35 12:13 So tell them36 you are my sister37 so that it may go well38 for me because of you and my life will be spared39 on account of you.”
12:14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 12:15 When Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. So Abram’s wife40 was taken41 into the household of Pharaoh,42 12:16 and he did treat Abram well43 on account of her. Abram received44 sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
12:17 But the