Gen 12:10-20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 12:10-20: 12:10-20 This episode shows that God would not allow Abram to jeopardize his promises. Just after Abram’s obedience to the call, a famine tested his weak faith. God delivered him and his family, even though Abram foolishly used deception rather than trusting in God to preserve him in Egypt. • This story deliberately parallels Israel’s later bondage in Egypt. Because of a famine (Gen 12:10 // Gen 47:13 ), Abram/Israel went to Egypt (Gen 12:10 // Gen 47:27 ); there was an attempt to kill the males and save the females (Gen 12:12 // Exod 1:22 ); God plagued Egypt (Gen 12:17 // Exod 7:14–11:10 ); Abram/Israel plundered Egypt (Gen 12:16 // Exod 12:35-36 ); they were expelled (Hebrew shalakh, “send”; Gen 12:19-20 // Exod 12:31-33 ) and ascended to the Negev (Gen 13:1 // Num 13:17 , 22 ). Israel was to believe that God would deliver them from bondage in Egypt through the plagues because their ancestor had already been rescued from bondage in Egypt. Summary for Gen 12:10-13: 12:10-13 Abram’s scheme was rooted in fear that jeopardized his family and God’s promises. Abram was not walking by faith when he went to Egypt. He stopped building altars and his deceptiveness took center stage. Deception would plague his family throughout Genesis (26:1-11 ; 27:1-29 ; 29:15-30 ; 30:34-36 ; 31:6-11 ; 37:18-35 ; 39:7-20 ). • Abram’s plan was probably based on a social custom whereby a brother arranged the marriage of his sister (cp. 24:29-61 ). Abram may have thought that any potential suitor would have to deal with him, giving him time to leave with Sarai. He did not count on Pharaoh’s acting without negotiation (12:14-16 ). 12:10 The Nile River provided ample irrigation, so Egypt was often the last region to suffer from famine .

Summary for Gen 12:10-20: 12:10-20 ^a This episode shows that God would not allow Abram to jeopardize his promises. Just after Abram’s obedience to the call, a famine tested his weak faith. God delivered him and his family, even though Abram foolishly used deception rather than trusting in God to preserve him in Egypt.

• This story deliberately parallels Israel’s later bondage in Egypt. Because of a famine (Gen 12:10 ^b // Gen 47:13 ^c), Abram/Israel went to Egypt (Gen 12:10 ^d // Gen 47:27 ^e); there was an attempt to kill the males and save the females (Gen 12:12 ^f // Exod 1:22 ^g); God plagued Egypt (Gen 12:17 ^h // Exod 7:14–11:10 ⁱ); Abram/Israel plundered Egypt (Gen 12:16 ^j // Exod 12:35-36 ^k); they were expelled (Hebrew shalakh, “send”; Gen 12:19-20 ^l // Exod 12:31-33 ^m) and ascended to the Negev (Gen 13:1 ⁿ // Num 13:17 ^o, 22 ^p). Israel was to believe that God would deliver them from bondage in Egypt through the plagues because their ancestor had already been rescued from bondage in Egypt.
Summary for Gen 12:10-13: 12:10-13 ^q Abram’s scheme was rooted in fear that jeopardized his family and God’s promises. Abram was not walking by faith when he went to Egypt. He stopped building altars and his deceptiveness took center stage. Deception would plague his family throughout Genesis (26:1-11 ^r; 27:1-29 ^s; 29:15-30 ^t; 30:34-36 ^u; 31:6-11 ^v; 37:18-35 ^w; 39:7-20 ^x).

• Abram’s plan was probably based on a social custom whereby a brother arranged the marriage of his sister (cp. 24:29-61 ^y). Abram may have thought that any potential suitor would have to deal with him, giving him time to leave with Sarai. He did not count on Pharaoh’s acting without negotiation (12:14-16 ^z). 12:10 ^aa The Nile River provided ample irrigation, so Egypt was often the last region to suffer from famine.
12:13 ^ab tell them you are my sister: This request occurs three times in Genesis (see also 20:2 ^ac; 26:7 ^ad). The text explains that this was Abram’s usual strategy (20:13 ^ae), and his son did likewise. This first occasion was outside the land, the second (ch 20 ^af) within, showing that God protected his promise in both regions.
Summary for Gen 12:14-16: 12:14-16 ^ag Abram was bound by the king’s gift to an unwanted agreement about Sarai that he could not prevent. His scheme had resulted in a terrible bind that endangered him, Sarai, and the promise.

• Abram appeared to prosper from his deception, but the new possessions also caused crises. Abram and Lot had to separate (ch 13 ^ah), and Hagar, an Egyptian maiden, became the mother of the Ishmaelites, perennial enemies of Israel (ch 16 ^ai).
Summary for Gen 12:14-15: 12:14-15 ^aj Sarai was 65 years old, but she lived to be 127; she was like a modern childless woman of about 35. She and Abram came from a noble family (see study note on 11:29), so she was regal in her person and dress. Pharaoh was attracted by her physical appearance and her political assets.
12:15 ^ak Pharaoh was a title, not a personal name (37:36 ^al; Exod 1:15 ^am).
Summary for Gen 12:17-19: 12:17-19 ^an God’s intervention rescued Sarai and preserved the marriage to fulfill the covenant promise. Sarai’s restoration to Abram came with a rebuke from Pharaoh on God’s behalf (12:18-19 ^ao).
12:20 ^ap No answer to Pharaoh’s questions (12:18-19 ^aq) was needed, because the rebuke was followed by expulsion. Pharaoh’s command paralleled God’s command to Abram (12:1 ^ar), but Pharaoh’s demand brought shame and disgrace. God was faithful in preserving his promise.