Gen 12:5-9 | TNotes | STEP | 12:5 The people (Hebrew hannepesh , “the lives”) he had taken into his household were probably converts; Abram first became a blessing by influencing people in his household to join him in following the Lord.

a12:5►

b12:6-7►

cIsa 1:29►

dGen 12:8►

e12:8►

f12:7►

g12:6►

hNum 14►

iJosh 1:6-9►

j12:8-9►

k12:8►

l4:26►

mExod 34:5-7►

‏ Genesis 12:5-9

12:5 ^a The people (Hebrew hannepesh, “the lives”) he had taken into his household were probably converts; Abram first became a blessing by influencing people in his household to join him in following the Lord.
Summary for Gen 12:6-7: 12:6-7 ^b The oak of Moreh was apparently a Canaanite shrine; fertile groves of trees were sacred to the Canaanites (cp. Isa 1:29 ^c), and Moreh means “teacher.” Abram proclaimed (Luther: “preached”) the Lord’s name beside a pagan place of worship and instruction (Gen 12:8 ^d).

• Abram continued to be a blessing when he built an altar to worship God at Shechem and east of Bethel (12:8 ^e).
12:7 ^f The Lord appeared to Abram at Shechem (12:6 ^g) to confirm that this land was the Promised Land. Israel was to occupy this land, but sharing in God’s promises required their faith (cp. Num 14 ^h; Josh 1:6-9 ⁱ).

• to your descendants: Abram did not yet possess the land; he lived as a temporary settler.
Summary for Gen 12:8-9: 12:8-9 ^j Abram had to keep moving camp because the Canaanites had the fertile land. 12:8 ^k he worshiped the Lord (literally he made proclamation of the Lord by name): Proclaiming the name (identity and character) of the Lord is central to worship and witness (cp. 4:26 ^l; see Exod 34:5-7 ^m). Abram had to distinguish his sacrificial worship from that of the pagan Canaanites.