Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 12 – Chapter 13
CHAP. XII.
Ver. 1. HAd said] For this seemes not to be a second Call; But the Narration of the first Call out of Ur, and the cause of their going forth of Ur, ch, 11. 31.
and thy kindred] If they had rather stay behinde thee then remove with thee.
will shew thee] As he raised this righteous man from the East, so he called him to his foot to follow him and his direction, Esay 41. 2. Likely, God bade him go to Canaan, but told him not that that was the land intended for him, till he came thither, Heb. 11 8 Gen. 12. 7. And this was for the greater trial of his faith.
V. 2. A great Nation] Yet Sarah now at sixty five was barren. And under this is also a spiritual seed promised, Rom. 4. 11, 12. Gal. 3. 7.
blesse thee] Spiritually also, Gal. 3. 14.
thou shalt be] Or be thou a blessing. God will command a blessing, as, Ps. 42. 8. 44. 4. and so, 133. 3.
V. 3. And I will blesse] Like to this is that of Isaac to Jacob, Gen. 27. 29. and that of Bala…m to Israel, Numb. 24. 9.
in thee] In thy seed Christ, Gen. 18. 18. 22. 18. Acts 3. 25, 26. Gal. 3. 8, 14. Thus the Gospel was preached unto Abraham, Gal. 3. 8. From this Promise and Covenant made in Ur of the Chaldees, to the giving of the Law which could not disannul it, were foure hundred and thirty yeares, Gal. 3. 17, 18.
V. 4. Departed] Went out by faith, not knowing whither he went, Heb. 11. 8.
and Lot went with him] Terahs family and Nahor stayed here. See Annotations on ch. 11. 3…. Here they left following God, and fell again to idolatry, ch. 31. 30, 53. Josh. 24, 2.
Seventy five] He lived one hundred yeares after, ch. 25. 7. And Isaac his sonne, then seventy five yeares old, being borne in the one hundredth yeare of Abrahams age, ch. 21. 5. is left heire of Canaan.
V. 5. Soules] Likely divers were converted Proselytes, considering his care of his family, ch. 18. 19. and their ready obedience to him, ch. 14. 14. and to Gods Ordinance of Circumcision, ch. 17. 23.
Canaan] Deut. 8. 7, 8, 9. This was the type of an Heavenly, which Abraham looked for, Heb. 11. 9, 10.
And in Salem a City of Canaan, Melchisedech dwelled, and reigned a Priest of the most High God.
V. 6. Sichem] Where after the City Sichem was, chap. 33. 18. about the midst of the countrey called Sichar in our Saviours time, Joh. 4. 5
unto the Plaine] Set with a grove of oakes, Deut. 11. 30.
the Canaanite] When God promiseth the cleansing of his Church, he saith, the Canaanite shall be there no more, Zach. 14. 21.
V. 7. Unto thy seed] Here he tells him this is the land intended for him, and now doth promise it; whereupon it is called the Land of Promise, Heb. 11. 9. the Lords Land, Hos. 9. 3. the Holy Land, Zach. 2. 12. the Land of Immanuel, Esay 8. 8.
thy seed] When as yet he had no childe, Acts 7. 5. an Altar] As, Gen. 8. 20.
V. 8. Bethel] After so called, at this time Luz, ch. 28. 19. Moses calls many places by the names which were afterwards given to them, sitting his speech to the men of that age wherein himself lived.
West] Sea is here put for the West, as Desert for the South, Ps. 75. 6.
V. 9. South] Next Egypt.
V. 10. Into Egypt, Ps. 105. 13.
V. 11. Faire] Very faire, v. 14. in her self, but more comparing her with the Egyptian women, though now she was sixty five yeares old.
V. 13. My sister] Neece; she being his brothers daughter, his fathers Grand-childe, persons so near of kin are usually called brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, Gen. 31. 28. Exod. 2. 18. which makes him say to Abimelech, ch. 20. 12. Indeed she is my sister. But Abram, praying her to conceale part of the truth, and purposely that the Egyptians might not conceive her to be his wife, bewrayeth weaknesse of faith and humane frailty, fearing perhaps, that if he should die without issue, Gods Promise should not have taken place, and therefore he exposeth her to danger to save himself, though withal he might have some hope that God would prevent that mischief.
V. 15. The Princes] Courtiers.
Pharaoh] The common name of the Egyptian Kings, as Abimelech of the Philistines, and Caesar of the Roman Emperours. They had other proper names, as Pharaoh Neco. 2. Kings 23. 29 Pharaoh Hophra, Jer. 44. 30. In the Grecian Monarchy they were called Ptolemies. Pharaohs house] Likely stayed there a while.
V. 17. Plagued.] Psal. 105. 14. 1 Chron. 16. 21, 22.
V. 20. And Pharaoh commanded] The King being angry, expects no answer.
sent him away] Haply with Honour, as, Exod. 18. 27. and safe conduct.
CHAP. XIII.
Verse 1. SOuth] Canaan is South from Egypt.
V. 2. Very rich] Ch. 12. 2. 24. 35. Prov. 10. 22.
V. 5. And Tents] Which implies also many servants that dwelt in those tents.
V. 6. To beare them] But they wanted pasture and water for so many flocks and herds, whence the strife rose, v. 7.
V. 7. And the Canaanite] Had taken up the better part of pasturage; neither were they to have a scandal given them by any dissensions and discords between Abram and Lot.
V. 8. And Abram said to Lot] The Uncle and Superiour condescends herein, and chooseth rather to take wrong then to contend, 1 Cor. 6. 7.
V 9 If thou wilt take] By consent of the Canaanites. Abram had no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on, Act. 7 5 Nor did he, or could he give to Lot any title to the land, but such an use of it, as upon faire and reasonable termes he might obtain and enjoy. Abram after bought a burial place, ch 23, 11, 12, 13.
V. 10. Zoar] Afterwards so called, but then called Belah, ch 14. 2, 8. 19. 22. The meaning is, all the Plaine of Jordan, even to Zoar was such.
V. 13. Sinners] ch. 19. 5. Ezech. 16. 49, 50. Lot thinking to get Paradise found hell.
V. 15. Which thou seest] Part whereof each way thou seest. So Moses viewed the land, but possessed it not, Deut. 34. 1. 4.
and to thy seed] For thy sake. The heavenly Canaan to thy spiritual seed, Christs mystical body for Christs sake, Gal. 3. 16. Rom. 9. 6, 7, 8. Gal. 4. 22, 23.
for ever] if they obey and keep my Covenant, Esay 65. 9. Psal. 69. 35, 36. degenerate not, John 8. 39 But else not. Deut. 4. 25, 26. Lev. 26. 33. 18. 28. Ezech. 33, 24, 25, 26.
But I will give the heavenly Canaan, typified by this, Heb. 11. 10, 16. to thy spiritual seed to all eternity, Gal. 3▪ …6, 26, 28, 29.
V. 16. as the dust] Ch. 28. 14. 32. 12. so Balaam said▪ Numb. 23. 10.
V. 18. Plaine of Mamre] Ch. 14. 13, 24. The Plaine of Morch differs from this, and joy…es to Shechem, chap. 12. 6.
which is in Hebron] It had this name afterward, before it was called Kiriath-Arba, ch. 23. 2. 35 27. Josh; 14. 15. 15. 13. It was after a famous burial place, ch. 49. 31. sometime possessed by Gaints, Numb 13. 22. and driven out by Caleb, Josh, 15. 13, 14 and given to him, Josh. 14. 14. a City of Refuge in the Tribe of Judah, Josh. 15. 54. 20. 7. David first reigned in it. And thither most likely went the blessed Virgin to visit her Cousin Elizabeth, Luke 1. 39.
an Altar] To sacrifice thankfully to God, and to sanctifie his viewed heritage.