Reference: Abraham
American
Father of a multitude, Ge 17:4-5; the great founder of the Jewish nation. He was a son of Terah, a descendant of Shem, and born in Ur, a city of Chaldea, A.M. 2008, B. C. 1996, Ge 11:27-28. Here he lived seventy years, when at the call of God he left his idolatrous kindred, and removed to Haran, in Mesopotamia, Ac 7:2-4, accompanied by his father, his wife Sarai, his brother Nahor, and his nephew Lot. A few years after, having buried his father, he again removed at the call of God, with his wife and nephew, and entered the land of promise as a nomad or wandering shepherd. Sojourning for a time at Shechem, he built here, as was his custom, an alter to the Lord, who appeared to him, and promised that land to his seed. Removing from place to place for convenience of water and pasturage, he was at length driven by a famine into Egypt, where he dissembled in calling his wife his sister, Ge 12. Returning to Canaan rich in flocks and herds, he left Lot to dwell in the fertile valley of the lower Jordan, and pitched his own tents in Mamre, Ge 13. A few years after, he rescued Lot and his friends from captivity, and received the blessing of Melchizedek, Ge 14. Again God appeared to him, promised that his seed should be like the stars for number, and foretold their oppression in Egypt 400 years, and their return to possess the promised land, Ge 15. But the promise of a son being yet unfulfilled, Sarai gave him Hagar her maid for a secondary wife, of whom Ishmael was born, Ge 16. After thirteen years, God again appeared to him, and assured him that the heir of the promise should yet be born of his wife, whose name was then changed to Sarah. He established also the covenant of circumcision, Ge 17. Here, too, occurred the visit of the three angels, and the memorable intercession with the Angel-Jehovah for the inhabitants of Sodom, Ge 18. After this, Abraham journeyed south to Gerah, where he again called Sarah his sister. In this region Isaac was born; and soon after, Hagar and Ishmael were driven out to seek a new home, Ge 21. About twenty-five years after, God put to trial the faith of Abraham, by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac, his son and the heir of the promise, upon Mount Moriah, Ge 22. Twelve years after, Sarah died, and the cave of Machpelag was bought for a burial-place, Ge 23. Abraham sent his steward, and obtained a wife for Isaac from his pious kindred in Mesopotamia, Ge 24. He himself also married Keturah, and had six sons, each one the founder of a distinct people in Arabia. At the age of 175, full of years and honors, he died, and was buried by his sons in the same tomb with Sarah, Ge 25.
The character of Abraham is one of the most remarkable in Scripture. He was a genuine oriental patriarch, a prince in the land; his property was large, his retinue very numerous, and he commanded the respect of the neighboring people: and yet he was truly a stranger and a pilgrim, the only land he possessed being the burial-place he had purchased. Distinguished by his integrity, generosity, and hospitality, he was most of all remarkable for his simple and unwavering faith, a faith that obeyed without hesitation or delay, and recoiled not from the most fearful trial ever imposed upon man, so that he is justly styled "the father of the faithful," that is, of believers. No name in history is venerated by so large a portion of the human race, Mohammedans as well as Jews and Christians. As the ancestor of Christ, in whom all the nations are blessed, and as the father of all believers, the covenant is abundantly fulfilled to him: his seed are as the stars of heaven and with them he shall inherit the heavenly Canaan.
ABRAHAM'S BOSOM. In Lu 16:22, Lazarus is said to have been carried to Abraham's bosom, that is, to the state of bliss in paradise which the father of the faithful was enjoying. This is often represented by a feast, by sitting down to a banquet, Mt 8:11; Lu 13:29. To lie on one's bosom refers to the oriental mode of reclining at table, Joh 13:23. See EATING.
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And these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before Terah his father, in the land where he was born, at Ur in Chaldea.
"I am. Behold, my covenant is with thee, that thou shalt be a father of many nations. Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee,
I say therefore unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall rest with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven;
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
And it fortuned that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: The rich man also died, and was buried in hell.
There was one of his disciples which leaned on Jesus' bosom, whom Jesus loved.
And he said, "Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hearken to. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, 'Come out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show unto thee.' read more. Then came he out of the land of Chaldea and dwelt in Haran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, he brought him into this land, in which ye now dwell,
Easton
father of a multitude, son of Terah, named (Ge 11:27) before his older brothers Nahor and Haran, because he was the heir of the promises. Till the age of seventy, Abram sojourned among his kindred in his native country of Chaldea. He then, with his father and his family and household, quitted the city of Ur, in which he had hitherto dwelt, and went some 300 miles north to Haran, where he abode fifteen years. The cause of his migration was a call from God (Ac 7:2-4). There is no mention of this first call in the Old Testament; it is implied, however, in Ge 12. While they tarried at Haran, Terah died at the age of 205 years. Abram now received a second and more definite call, accompanied by a promise from God (Ge 12:1-2); whereupon he took his departure, taking his nephew Lot with him, "not knowing whither he went" (Heb 11:8). He trusted implicitly to the guidance of Him who had called him.
Abram now, with a large household of probably a thousand souls, entered on a migratory life, and dwelt in tents. Passing along the valley of the Jabbok, in the land of Canaan, he formed his first encampment at Sichem (Ge 12:6), in the vale or oak-grove of Moreh, between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south. Here he received the great promise, "I will make of thee a great nation," etc. (Ge 12:2-3,7). This promise comprehended not only temporal but also spiritual blessings. It implied that he was the chosen ancestor of the great Deliverer whose coming had been long ago predicted (Ge 3:15). Soon after this, for some reason not mentioned, he removed his tent to the mountain district between Bethel, then called Luz, and Ai, towns about two miles apart, where he built an altar to "Jehovah." He again moved into the southern tract of Palestine, called by the Hebrews the Negeb; and was at length, on account of a famine, compelled to go down into Egypt. This took place in the time of the Hyksos, a Semitic race which now held the Egyptians in bondage. Here occurred that case of deception on the part of Abram which exposed him to the rebuke of Pharaoh (Ge 12:18). Sarai was restored to him; and Pharaoh loaded him with presents, recommending him to withdraw from the country. He returned to Canaan richer than when he left it, "in cattle, in silver, and in gold" (Ge 12:8; 13:2. Comp. Ps 105:13-14). The whole party then moved northward, and returned to their previous station near Bethel. Here disputes arose between Lot's shepherds and those of Abram about water and pasturage. Abram generously gave Lot his choice of the pasture-ground. (Comp. 1Co 6:7.) He chose the well-watered plain in which Sodom was situated, and removed thither; and thus the uncle and nephew were separated. Immediately after this Abram was cheered by a repetition of the promises already made to him, and then removed to the plain or "oak-grove" of Mamre, which is in Hebron. He finally settled here, pitching his tent under a famous oak or terebinth tree, called "the oak of Mamre" (Ge 13:18). This was his third resting-place in the land.
Illustration: Semitic Family
Some fourteen years before this, while Abram was still in Chaldea, Palestine had been invaded by Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, who brought under tribute to him the five cities in the plain to which Lot had removed. This tribute was felt by the inhabitants of these cities to be a heavy burden, and after twelve years they revolted. This brought upon them the vengeance of Chedorlaomer, who had in league with him four other kings. He ravaged the whole country, plundering the towns, and carrying the inhabitants away as slaves. Among those thus treated was Lot. Hearing of the disaster that had fallen on his nephew, Abram immediately gathered from his own household a band of 318 armed men, and being joined by the Amoritish chiefs Mamre, Aner, and Eshcol, he pursued after Chedorlaomer, and overtook him near the springs of the Jordan. They attacked and routed his army, and pursued it over the range of Anti-Libanus as far as to Hobah, near Damascus, and then returned, bringing back all the spoils that had been carried away. Returning by way of Salem, i.e., Jerusalem, the king of that place, Melchizedek, came forth to meet them with refreshments. To him Abram presented a tenth of the spoils, in recognition of his character as a priest of the most high God (Ge 14:18-20).
In a recently-discovered tablet, dated in the reign of the grandfather of Amraphel (Ge 14:1), one of the witnesses is called "the Amorite, the son of Abiramu," or Abram.
Having returned to his home at Mamre, the promises already made to him by God were repeated and enlarged (Ge 13:14). "The word of the Lord" (an expression occurring here for the first time) "came to him" (Ge 15:1). He now understood better the future that lay before the nation that was to spring from him. Sarai, now seventy-five years old, in her impatience, persuaded Abram to take Hagar, her Egyptian maid, as a concubine, intending that whatever child might be born should be reckoned as her own. Ishmael was accordingly thus brought up, and was regarded as the heir of these promises (Ge 16). When Ishmael was thirteen years old, God again revealed yet more explicitly and fully his gracious purpose; and in token of the sure fulfilment of that purpose the patriarch's name was now changed from Abram to Abraham (Ge 17:4-5), and the rite of circumcision was instituted as a sign of the covenant. It was then announced that the heir to these covenant promises would be the son of Sarai, though she was now ninety years old; and it was directed that his name should be Isaac. At the same time, in commemoration of the promises, Sarai's name was changed to Sarah. On that memorable day of God's thus revealing his design, Abraham and his son Ishmael and all the males of his house were circumcised (Ge 17). Three months after this, as Abraham sat in his tent door, he saw three men approaching. They accepted his proffered hospitality, and, seated under an oak-tree, partook of the fare which Abraham and Sarah provided. One of the three visitants was none other than the Lord, and the other two were angels in the guise of men. The Lord renewed on this occasion his promise of a son by Sarah, who was rebuked for her unbelief. Abraham accompanied the three as they proceeded on their journey. The two angels went on toward Sodom; while the Lord tarried behind and talked with Abraham, making known to him the destruction that was about to fall on that guilty city. The patriarch interceded earnestly in behalf of the doomed city. But as not even ten righteous persons were found in it, for whose sake the city would have been spared, the threatened destruction fell upon it; and early next morning Abraham saw the smoke of the fire that consumed it as the "smoke of a furnace" (Ge 19:1-28).
After fifteen years' residence at Mamre, Abraham moved southward, and pitched his tent among the Philistines, near to Gerar. Here occurred that sad instance of prevarication on his part in his relation to Abimelech the King (Ge 20). (See Abimelech.) Soon after this event, the patriarch left the vicinity of Gerar, and moved down the fertile valley about 25 miles to Beer-sheba. It was probably here that Isaac was born, Abraham being now an hundred years old. A feeling of jealousy now arose between Sarah and Hagar, whose son, Ishmael, was no longer to be regarded as Abraham's heir. Sarah insisted that both Hagar and her son should be sent away. This was done, although it was a hard trial to Abraham (Ge 21:12). (See Hagar; Ishmael.)
At this point there is a blank in the patriarch's history of perhaps twenty-five years. These years of peace and happiness were spent at Beer-sheba. The next time we see him his faith is put to a severe test by the command that suddenly came to him to go and offer up Isaac, the heir of all the promises, as a sacrifice on one of the mountains of Moriah. His faith stood the test (Heb 11:17-19). He proceeded in a spirit of unhesitating obedience to carry out the command; and when about to slay his son, whom he had laid on the altar, his uplifted hand was arrested by the angel of Jehovah, and a ram, which was entangled in a thicket near at hand, was seized and offe
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Moreover, I will put hatred between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. And that seed shall tread thee on the head, and thou shalt tread it on the heel."
And these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran begat Lot.
Then took Terah: Abram his son, and Lot his son Haran's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law his son Abram's wife. And they went with him from Ur in Chaldea, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelled there.
Then the LORD said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred; and out of thy father's house, into a land which I will show thee. And I will make of thee a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, that thou mayst be a blessing.
And I will make of thee a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, that thou mayst be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall be blessed all the generations of the earth."
Abram went forth into the land till he came unto a place called Shechem, and unto the oak of Moreh. And the Cananites dwelled then in the land. Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him. read more. Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "Why hast thou thus dealt with me? Wherefore toldest thou me not that she was thy wife?
Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold.
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was departed from him, "Lift up thine eyes and look from the place where thou art, northward, southward, eastward and westward,
Then Abram took down his tent, and went and dwelled in the oak grove of Mamre, which is in Hebron; and built there an altar to the LORD.
And it chanced within a while, that Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of the nations:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine. And he being the priest of the most highest God, blessed him, saying, "Blessed be Abram unto the most highest God, possessor of heaven and earth. read more. And blessed be God the most highest, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hands." And Abram gave him tithes of all.
After these deeds, the word of God came unto Abram in a vision, saying, "Fear not Abram, I am thy shield; and thy reward shall be exceeding great."
"I am. Behold, my covenant is with thee, that thou shalt be a father of many nations. Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee,
And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face. And he said, "See lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house; and tarry all night and wash your feet, and rise up early and go on your ways." And they said, "Nay, but we will bide in the streets all night." read more. And he compelled them exceedingly. And they turned in unto him and entered into his house, and he made them a feast and did bake sweet cakes, and they ate. But before they went to rest, the men of the city of Sodom compassed the house round about both old and young, all the people from all quarters. And they called unto Lot and said unto him, "Where are the men which came into thy house tonight? Bring them out unto us that we may do our lust with them." And Lot went out at doors unto them and shut the door after him, and said, "Nay. For God's sake, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters which have known no man; them will I bring out unto you: do with them as it seemeth you good: Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." And they said, "Come hither." And they said, "Camest thou not in to sojourn, and wilt thou be now a judge? We will surely deal worse with thee than with them. And as they pressed sore upon Lot and began to break up the door, the men put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door. And the men that were at the door of the house, they smote with blindness - both small and great, so that they could not find the door. And the men said moreover unto Lot, "If thou have yet here any son-in-law or sons or daughters or whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring it out of this place: for we must destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before the LORD. Wherefore he hath sent us to destroy it." And Lot went out and spake unto his sons-in-law, which should have married his daughters, and said, "Stand up and get you out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city!" But he seemed as though he had mocked, unto his sons-in-law. And as the morning arose, the angels caused Lot to speed him, saying, "Stand up, take thy wife and thy two daughters and that that is at hand, lest thou perish in the sin of the city." And as he prolonged the time, the men caught both him, his wife and his two daughters by the hands; because the LORD was merciful unto him, and they brought him forth and set him without the city. When they had brought them out, they said, "Save thy life and look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in any place of the country, but save thyself in the mountain, lest thou perish." Then said Lot unto them, "Oh nay my lord: behold, inasmuch as thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, now make thy mercy great which thou showest unto me in saving my life. For I cannot save myself in the mountains, lest some misfortune fall upon me and I die. Behold, here is a city by, to flee unto, and it is a little one, let me save myself therein: is it not a little one, that my soul may live?" And he said to him, "See, I have received thy request as concerning this thing, that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, and save thyself there, for I can do nothing till thou be come in thither." And therefore the name of the city is called Zoar. And the sun was upon the earth when Lot was entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and overthrew those cities and all the region, and all that dwelled in the cities, and that that grew upon the earth. And Lot's wife looked behind her, and was turned in to a pillar of salt. Abraham rose up early and got him to the place where he stood before the LORD, and looked toward Sodom and Gomorra and toward all the land of that country. And as he looked: behold, the smoke of the country arose as it had been the smoke of a furnace.
Then the LORD said unto Abraham, "Let it not be grievous unto thee, because of the lad and of thy bondmaid: But in all that Sara hath said unto thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
So turned Abraham again unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
These are the days of the life of Abraham which he lived: a hundred and seventy five years and then fell sick and died, in a lusty age - when he had lived enough - and was put unto his people. read more. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the double cave in the field of Ephron, son of Zoar the Hittite before Mamre. Which field Abraham bought of the sons of Heth: There was Abraham buried, and Sara his wife.
For when Israel had sown then came the Midianites, the Amalekites, and they of the east country upon them and pitched their tents against them,
what time as they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another. He suffered no man to hurt them, but reproved even kings for their sakes,
And he said, "Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hearken to. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
And he said, "Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hearken to. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, 'Come out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show unto thee.' read more. Then came he out of the land of Chaldea and dwelt in Haran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, he brought him into this land, in which ye now dwell,
Therefore by faith is the inheritance given, that it might come of favour: and that the promise might be sure to all the seed. Not to them only which are of the law: but also to them which are of the faith of Abraham, which is the father of us all.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why rather suffer ye not wrong? Why rather suffer ye not yourselves to be robbed?
So then, they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out into a place which he should afterward receive to inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he should go.
By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, and he offered him being his only begotten son, which had received the promises: Of whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." read more. For he considered that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, for an example of the resurrection.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
Fausets
Abraham ("father of a multitude".) Up to Ge 17:4-5, his being sealed with circumcision, the sign of the covenant, ABRAM (father of elevation). Son of Terah, brother of Nahor and Haran. Progenitor of the Hebrew, Arabs, Edomites, and kindred tribes; the ninth in descent from Shem, through Heber. Haran died before Terah, leaving Lot and two daughters, Milcah and Iscah. Nahor married his niece Milcah: Abraham Iscah, i.e. Sarai, daughter, i.e. granddaughter, of his father, not of his mother (Ge 20:12). Ur, his home, is the modern Mugheir, the primeval capital of Chaldaea; its inscriptions are probably of the 22nd century B.C. The alphabetical Hebrew system is Phoenician, and was probably brought by Abraham to Canaan, where it became modified. Abraham, at God's call, went forth from Ur of the Chaldees (Ge 11:12-31).
In Haran Terah died. The statement in Ge 11:26, that Terah was 70 when he begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran, must apply only to the oldest, Haran. His being oldest appears from the fact that his brothers married his daughters, and that Sarai was only ten years younger than Abraham (Ge 17:17); the two younger were born subsequently, Abram, the youngest, when Terah was 130, as appears from comparing Ge 11:31 with Ge 12:4; Ac 7:3-4; "before he dwelt in Charran Haran, while he was in Mesopotamia," in his 60th year, at Ur he received his first call: "Depart from thy land, to a land which I will show thee" (as yet the exact land was not defined). In Haran he received a second call: "Depart from thy father's house unto THE land (Heb., Ge 12:1( which I will show thee;" and with it a promise, temporal (that God would bless him, and make him founder of a great nation) and spiritual (that in him all families of the earth should be blessed).
The deluge, the revelation to Noah, and the Babel dispersion had failed to counteract the universal tendency to idolatrous apostasy, obliterating every trace of primitive piety. God therefore provided an antidote in separating one family and nation to be the repository of His truth against the fullness of time when it should be revealed to the whole world. From Jos 24:2,14-15, it appears Terah and his family served other gods beyond the Euphrates. Silly traditions as to Terah being a maker of idols, and Abraham having been east into a fiery furnace by Nimrod for disbelief in idols, were drawn from this Scripture, and from Ur ("fire"). The second call additionally required that, now when his father was dead and filial duty had been discharged, after the stay of 15 years in Haran, he should leave his father's house, i.e. his brother Nahor's family, in Haran. The call was personally to himself.
He was to be isolated not only from his nation but from his family. Lot, his nephew, accompanied him, being regarded probably as his heir, as the promise of seed and the specification of his exact destination were only by degrees unfolded to him (Heb 11:8). Nicolaus of Damascus ascribed to him the conquest of Damascus on his way to Canaan. Scripture records nothing further than that his chief servant was Eliezer of Damascus; he pursued Chedorlaomer to Hobah, on the left of Damascus, subsequently (Ge 14:15), Abraham entered Canaan along the valley of the Jabbok, and encamped first in the rich Moreh valley, near Sichem, between mounts Ebal and Gerizim. There he received a confirmation of the promise, specifying "this land" as that which the original more general promise pointed to. Here therefore he built his first altar to God. The unfriendly attitude of the Canaanites induced him next to move to the mountain country between Bethel and Ai, where also he built an altar to Jehovah, whose worship was fast passing into oblivion in the world.
Famine led him to Egypt, the granary of the world, next. The record of his unbelieving cowardice there, and virtual lie as to Sarai (See ABIMELECH) is a striking proof of the candor of Scripture. Its heroes' faults are not glossed over; each saint not only falls at times, but is represented as failing in the very grace (e.g. Abraham in faith) for which he was most noted. Probably the Hyksos (akin to the Hebrew), or shepherds' dynasty, reigned then at Memphis, which would make Abraham's visit specially acceptable there. On his return his first visit was to the altar which he had erected to Jehovah before his fall (compare Ge 13:4 with Ho 2:7; Re 2:5). The greatness of his and Lot's substance prevented their continuing together. The promise of a direct heir too may have influenced Lot, as, no longer being heir, to seek a more fixed home, in the region of Sodom, than he had with Abraham, "dwelling in tents." Contrast the children of the world with the children of God (Heb 11:9-10,16-18). His third resting place was Mamre, near Hebron ("association", namely, that of Abraham, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner; next called Kirjath Arba; then it resumed its old name, Hebron, the future capital of Judah). This position, communicating with Egypt, and opening on the pastures of Beersheba, marks the greater power of his retinue now, as compared with what it was when he encamped in the mountain fastness of Ai.
Fourteen years previously Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (the region S. of Assyria, E. of Persia, Susiana), the chief sovereign, with Amrephar of Shinar (Babylon), Arioch of Ellasar (the Chaldean Larissa, or Larsa, half way between Ur, or Mugheir, and Erech, or Warka, in Lower Babylonia), and Tidal, king of nations, attacked Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, and Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela or Zoar, because after twelve bears of subordination they "rebelled" (Genesis 14). Babylon was originally the predominant power; but a recently deciphered Assyrian record states that an Elamitie king, Kudur Nakhunta, conquered Babylon 2296 B.C. Kudur Mabuk is called in the inscriptions the "ravager of Syria," so that the Scripture account of Chedorlaomer (from Lagsmar, a goddess, in Semitic; answering to Mabuk in Hamitic) exactly tallies with the monumental inscriptions which call him Apda martu, "ravager," not conqueror, "of the West." Abraham, with 318 followers, and aided by the Amorite chiefs, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, overtook the victorious invaders near Jordan's springs, and attacked them by night from different quarters and routed them, and recovered Lot with all the men and the goods carried off.
His disinterestedness was evinced in refusing any of the goods which Arabian war usage entitled him to, lest the king of worldly Sodom should say, "I have made Abraham rich" (compare Es 9:15-16; 2Ki 5:16; contrast Lot, Ge 13:10-11). Melchizedek, one of the only native princes who still served Jehovah, and was at once king and priest, blessed Abraham in the name of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed God in Abraham's name, by a beautiful reciprocation of blessing, and ministered to him bread and wine; and Abraham "gave him tithes of all." Immediately after Abraham had refused worldly rewards Jehovah in vision said, "I am ... thy exceeding great reward." The promise now was made more specific: Eliezer shall not be thine heir, but "he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels ... Tell if thou be able to number the stars; so shall thy seed be." His faith herein was called forth to accept what was above nature on the bore word of God; so "it (his faith) was counted to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15).
Hence he passes into direct covenant relation with God, confirmed by the sign of the burning lamp (compare Isa 62:1) passing between the divided pieces of a heifer, she goat, and ram, and accompanied by the revelation that his posterity are to be afflicted in a foreign land 400 years, then to come forth and conquer Canaan when the iniquity of the Amorites shall be full. The earthly inheritance was to include the whole region "from the river of Egypt unto the ... river Euphrates," a promise only in part fulfilled under David and Solomon (2Sa 8:3; 2Ki 4:21; 2Ch 9:26). Tyre and Sidon were never conquered; therefore the complete fulfillment remains for the millennial state, when "the meek shall inherit the land," and Ps 72:8-10 shall be realized; compare Lu 20:37. The taking of Hagar the Egypt
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For verily the blood of you, wherein your lives are, will I require: Even of the hand of all beasts will I require it, and of the hand of man and of the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man:
For verily the blood of you, wherein your lives are, will I require: Even of the hand of all beasts will I require it, and of the hand of man and of the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man: so that he which sheddeth man's blood, shall have his blood shed by man again: for God made man after his own likeness.
so that he which sheddeth man's blood, shall have his blood shed by man again: for God made man after his own likeness.
And Arpachshad lived thirty five years and begat Shelah, and lived, after he had begot Shelah, four hundred years and three and begat sons and daughters.
and lived, after he had begot Shelah, four hundred years and three and begat sons and daughters. And Shelah was thirty years old and begat Eber,
And Shelah was thirty years old and begat Eber, and lived, after he had begot Eber, four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
and lived, after he had begot Eber, four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. When Eber was thirty four years old, he begat Peleg,
When Eber was thirty four years old, he begat Peleg, and lived, after he had begot Peleg, four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
and lived, after he had begot Peleg, four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. And Peleg when he was thirty years old begat Reu,
And Peleg when he was thirty years old begat Reu, and lived after he had begot Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
and lived after he had begot Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. And Reu, when he had lived thirty two years, begat Serug,
And Reu, when he had lived thirty two years, begat Serug, and lived after he had begot Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
and lived after he had begot Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. And when Serug was thirty years old, he begat Nahor,
And when Serug was thirty years old, he begat Nahor, and lived, after he had begot Nahor, two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
and lived, after he had begot Nahor, two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Nahor, when he was twenty nine years old, begat Terah,
And Nahor, when he was twenty nine years old, begat Terah, and lived, after he had begot Terah, a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
and lived, after he had begot Terah, a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. And when Terah was seventy years old, he begat Abram, Nahor and Haran.
And when Terah was seventy years old, he begat Abram, Nahor and Haran.
And when Terah was seventy years old, he begat Abram, Nahor and Haran.
And when Terah was seventy years old, he begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran begat Lot.
And these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before Terah his father, in the land where he was born, at Ur in Chaldea.
And Haran died before Terah his father, in the land where he was born, at Ur in Chaldea. And Abram and Nahor took them wives. Abram's wife was called Sarai. And Nahor's wife, Milcah the daughter of Haran; which was father of Milcah and of Iscah.
And Abram and Nahor took them wives. Abram's wife was called Sarai. And Nahor's wife, Milcah the daughter of Haran; which was father of Milcah and of Iscah. But Sarai was barren and had no child.
But Sarai was barren and had no child. Then took Terah: Abram his son, and Lot his son Haran's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law his son Abram's wife. And they went with him from Ur in Chaldea, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelled there.
Then took Terah: Abram his son, and Lot his son Haran's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law his son Abram's wife. And they went with him from Ur in Chaldea, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelled there.
Then took Terah: Abram his son, and Lot his son Haran's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law his son Abram's wife. And they went with him from Ur in Chaldea, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelled there.
Then took Terah: Abram his son, and Lot his son Haran's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law his son Abram's wife. And they went with him from Ur in Chaldea, to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelled there.
Then the LORD said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred; and out of thy father's house, into a land which I will show thee.
Then the LORD said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred; and out of thy father's house, into a land which I will show thee.
And Abram went as the LORD bade him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old, when he went out of Haran.
And Abram went as the LORD bade him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old, when he went out of Haran.
and unto the place of the altar which he made before. And there called Abram upon the name, of the LORD.
and unto the place of the altar which he made before. And there called Abram upon the name, of the LORD.
Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt.
Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt. Then Lot chose all the coasts of Jordan and took his journey from the east. And so departed the one brother from the other.
Then Lot chose all the coasts of Jordan and took his journey from the east. And so departed the one brother from the other.
And set himself and his servants in array, and fell upon them by night, and smote them, and chased them away unto Hobah, which lieth on the lefthand of Damascus,
And set himself and his servants in array, and fell upon them by night, and smote them, and chased them away unto Hobah, which lieth on the lefthand of Damascus,
"I am. Behold, my covenant is with thee, that thou shalt be a father of many nations.
"I am. Behold, my covenant is with thee, that thou shalt be a father of many nations. Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee,
Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee,
And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sara, that is ninety years old, bear?"
And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sara, that is ninety years old, bear?" And Abraham said unto God, "O that Ishmael might live in thy sight!"
And Abraham said unto God, "O that Ishmael might live in thy sight!"
And the LORD appeared unto him in the oak grove of Mamre as he sat in his tent door in the heat of the day.
And the LORD appeared unto him in the oak grove of Mamre as he sat in his tent door in the heat of the day.
And Sara laughed in herself saying, "Now I am waxed old, shall I give myself to lust, and my lord old also?"
And Sara laughed in herself saying, "Now I am waxed old, shall I give myself to lust, and my lord old also?" Then said the LORD unto Abraham, "Wherefore doth Sara laugh saying, 'shall I of a surety bear a child, now when I am old?'
Then said the LORD unto Abraham, "Wherefore doth Sara laugh saying, 'shall I of a surety bear a child, now when I am old?' Is the thing too hard for the LORD to do? In the time appointed will I return unto thee, as soon as the fruit can have life. And Sara shall have a son."
Is the thing too hard for the LORD to do? In the time appointed will I return unto thee, as soon as the fruit can have life. And Sara shall have a son." Then Sara denied it, saying, "I laughed not." For she was afraid. But he said, "Yes, thou laughtest."
Then Sara denied it, saying, "I laughed not." For she was afraid. But he said, "Yes, thou laughtest."
yet in very deed she is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not of my mother: and became my wife.
yet in very deed she is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not of my mother: and became my wife.
The third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place afar off,
The third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place afar off,
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And when Moses turned again in to the host, the lad Joshua, his servant, the son of Nun, departed not out of the tabernacle.
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And when Moses turned again in to the host, the lad Joshua, his servant, the son of Nun, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Unto him I speak mouth to mouth and he seeth the sight and the fashion of the LORD, and not through riddles. Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
Unto him I speak mouth to mouth and he seeth the sight and the fashion of the LORD, and not through riddles. Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the water in old time even Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, and served strange gods.
And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the water in old time even Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, and served strange gods.
And now, fear the LORD and serve him in pureness and truth: And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the water, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
And now, fear the LORD and serve him in pureness and truth: And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the water, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day, whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the water, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land, ye dwelt. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
But if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day, whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the water, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land, ye dwelt. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to make the end of his coasts at the river Euphrates.
David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to make the end of his coasts at the river Euphrates.
And the Jews gathered themselves together at Susa, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Susa, but on their goods they laid no hands.
And the Jews gathered themselves together at Susa, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Susa, but on their goods they laid no hands. As for the other Jews in the king's lands, they came together, and stood for their lives, and gat rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand: howbeit, they laid no hands on their goods.
As for the other Jews in the king's lands, they came together, and stood for their lives, and gat rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand: howbeit, they laid no hands on their goods.
The secret of the LORD is among them that fear him, and he showeth them his covenant.
The secret of the LORD is among them that fear him, and he showeth them his covenant.
His dominion shall be from the one sea to the other, and from the flood unto the world's end.
His dominion shall be from the one sea to the other, and from the flood unto the world's end. They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust.
They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall give presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall give presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.
For Zion's sake therefore will I not hold my tongue, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not cease: until their righteousness break forth as a shining light, and their salvation as a burning lamp.
For Zion's sake therefore will I not hold my tongue, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not cease: until their righteousness break forth as a shining light, and their salvation as a burning lamp.
and though she run after her lovers, yet shall she not get them: she shall seek them, but not find them. Then shall she say, 'Well, I will go turn again to my first husband, for at that time was I better at ease, than now.'
and though she run after her lovers, yet shall she not get them: she shall seek them, but not find them. Then shall she say, 'Well, I will go turn again to my first husband, for at that time was I better at ease, than now.'
Now doth the LORD God no manner of thing, but he telleth his secret before unto his servants the prophets.
Now doth the LORD God no manner of thing, but he telleth his secret before unto his servants the prophets.
And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak until the time that these things be performed, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."
And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak until the time that these things be performed, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."
And the angel answered, and said unto her, "The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born, shall be called the son of God.
And the angel answered, and said unto her, "The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born, shall be called the son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age. And this is her sixth month, though she be called barren,
And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age. And this is her sixth month, though she be called barren, for with God can nothing be impossible."
for with God can nothing be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, be it unto me even as thou hast said." And the angel departed from her.
And Mary said, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, be it unto me even as thou hast said." And the angel departed from her.
And blessed art thou that believedst: For those things shall be performed which were told thee from the Lord."
And blessed art thou that believedst: For those things shall be performed which were told thee from the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifieth the Lord.
And Mary said, "My soul magnifieth the Lord. And my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour:
And my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour:
And that the dead shall rise again, even Moses signified besides the bush, when he said, 'The Lord God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
And that the dead shall rise again, even Moses signified besides the bush, when he said, 'The Lord God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, which word was full of grace, and verity.
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw the glory of it, as the glory of the only begotten son of the father, which word was full of grace, and verity.
Your father Abraham was glad to see my day, and he saw it and rejoiced."
Your father Abraham was glad to see my day, and he saw it and rejoiced."
Henceforth, call I you not servants: For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But you have I called friends: For all things that I have heard of my father, I have opened to you.
Henceforth, call I you not servants: For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But you have I called friends: For all things that I have heard of my father, I have opened to you.
and said unto him, 'Come out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show unto thee.'
and said unto him, 'Come out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show unto thee.' Then came he out of the land of Chaldea and dwelt in Haran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, he brought him into this land, in which ye now dwell,
Then came he out of the land of Chaldea and dwelt in Haran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, he brought him into this land, in which ye now dwell,
And though I could prophesy, and understood all secrets, and all knowledge: yea, if I had all faith so that I could move mountains out of their places, and yet had no love, I were nothing.
And though I could prophesy, and understood all secrets, and all knowledge: yea, if I had all faith so that I could move mountains out of their places, and yet had no love, I were nothing.
Also we received an answer of death in ourselves, and that was done because we should not put our trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead to life again -
Also we received an answer of death in ourselves, and that was done because we should not put our trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead to life again - and which delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver - on whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us,
and which delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver - on whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us,
To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, "in the seeds," as in many: But, "in thy seed," as in one, which is Christ.
To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, "in the seeds," as in many: But, "in thy seed," as in one, which is Christ.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. Yea, and he which was of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh: but he which was of the freewoman, was born by promise.
Yea, and he which was of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh: but he which was of the freewoman, was born by promise. Which things betoken mystery. For these women are two testaments, the one from the mount Sinai, which gendreth unto bondage, which is Hagar.
Which things betoken mystery. For these women are two testaments, the one from the mount Sinai, which gendreth unto bondage, which is Hagar. - For mount Sinai is called Hagar in Arabia, and bordereth upon the city which is now Jerusalem - and is in bondage with her children.
- For mount Sinai is called Hagar in Arabia, and bordereth upon the city which is now Jerusalem - and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all.
But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath a husband."
For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath a husband." Brethren, we are, after the manner of Isaac, children of promise:
Brethren, we are, after the manner of Isaac, children of promise: But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually; Even so is it now.
But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually; Even so is it now. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? "Put away the bondwoman and her son. For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman."
Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? "Put away the bondwoman and her son. For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman: but of the freewoman.
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman: but of the freewoman.
For in Jesus Christ, neither is circumcision anything worth, neither yet uncircumcision: but faith, which by love is mighty in operation.
For in Jesus Christ, neither is circumcision anything worth, neither yet uncircumcision: but faith, which by love is mighty in operation.
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had no greater thing to swear by, he sware by himself,
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had no greater thing to swear by, he sware by himself,
So God, willing very abundantly to show, unto the heirs of promise, the stableness of his counsel; he added an oath,
So God, willing very abundantly to show, unto the heirs of promise, the stableness of his counsel; he added an oath,
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out into a place which he should afterward receive to inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he should go.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out into a place which he should afterward receive to inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he should go. By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, and he offered him being his only begotten son, which had received the promises:
By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, and he offered him being his only begotten son, which had received the promises: Of whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called."
Of whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." For he considered that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, for an example of the resurrection.
For he considered that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, for an example of the resurrection.
Was not Abraham our father justified through works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not Abraham our father justified through works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest how that faith wrought within his deeds, and through the deeds was the faith made perfect.
Thou seest how that faith wrought within his deeds, and through the deeds was the faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. Or else I will come unto thee shortly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. Or else I will come unto thee shortly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Hastings
Abram and Abraham are the two forms in which the name of the first patriarch was handed down in Hebrew tradition. The change of name recorded in Ge 17:5 (Priestly Narrative) is a harmonistic theory, which involves an impossible etymology, and cannot be regarded as historical. Of Abraham no better explanation has been suggested than that it is possibly a dialectic or orthographic variation of Abram, which in the fuller forms Abir
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before Terah his father, in the land where he was born, at Ur in Chaldea.
Then the LORD said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred; and out of thy father's house, into a land which I will show thee. And I will make of thee a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, that thou mayst be a blessing. read more. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall be blessed all the generations of the earth." And Abram went as the LORD bade him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old, when he went out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son, with all their goods which they had gotten, and souls which they had begotten in Haran. And they departed to go into the land of Canaan. And when they were come into the land of Canaan, Abram went forth into the land till he came unto a place called Shechem, and unto the oak of Moreh. And the Cananites dwelled then in the land. Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him. Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land.
After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land. And when he was come nigh for to enter into Egypt, he said unto Sarai his wife, "Behold, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon.
And when he was come nigh for to enter into Egypt, he said unto Sarai his wife, "Behold, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon. It will come to pass, therefore, when the Egyptians see thee, that they will say, 'she is his wife.' And so shall they slay me and save thee.
It will come to pass, therefore, when the Egyptians see thee, that they will say, 'she is his wife.' And so shall they slay me and save thee. Say, I pray thee therefore, that thou art my sister; that I may fare the better by reason of thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake."
Say, I pray thee therefore, that thou art my sister; that I may fare the better by reason of thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake." As soon as he came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman that she was very fair.
As soon as he came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman that she was very fair. And Pharaoh's lords saw her also, and praised her unto Pharaoh, so that she was taken into Pharaoh's house;
And Pharaoh's lords saw her also, and praised her unto Pharaoh, so that she was taken into Pharaoh's house; which entreated Abram well for her sake, so that he had sheep, oxen and he-asses, men servants, maid servants, she-asses and camels.
which entreated Abram well for her sake, so that he had sheep, oxen and he-asses, men servants, maid servants, she-asses and camels. But God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
But God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai, Abram's wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "Why hast thou thus dealt with me? Wherefore toldest thou me not that she was thy wife?
Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "Why hast thou thus dealt with me? Wherefore toldest thou me not that she was thy wife? Why saidest thou that she was thy sister, and causedest me to take her to my wife? But now, lo, there is thy wife: take her and be walking."
Why saidest thou that she was thy sister, and causedest me to take her to my wife? But now, lo, there is thy wife: take her and be walking." Pharaoh also gave a charge unto his men over Abram, to lead him out, with his wife and all that he had.
Pharaoh also gave a charge unto his men over Abram, to lead him out, with his wife and all that he had.
And he said unto him, "I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur in Chaldea to give thee this land to possess it."
Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee,
Sara saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, a mocking. Then she said unto Abraham, "Put away this bondmaid and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." read more. But the word seemed very grievous in Abraham's sight, because of his son. Then the LORD said unto Abraham, "Let it not be grievous unto thee, because of the lad and of thy bondmaid: But in all that Sara hath said unto thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Moreover of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed." And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle with water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulders with the lad also, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered up and down in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was spent that was in the bottle, she cast the lad under a bush and went and sat her out of sight a great way; as it were a bowshot off. For she said, "I will not see the lad die." And she sat down out of sight, and lift up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the child. And the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven and said unto her, "What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the child where he lieth. Arise and lift up the lad, and take him in thy hand, for I will make of him a great people." And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. And God was with the lad, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother got him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
Abraham took him another wife called Keturah,
And he dwelt from Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt, as men go toward the Assyrians. And he died in the presence of all his brethren.
Morish
A'braham
Son of Terah and grandson of Nahor, the seventh descendant from Shem. His name was at first ABRAM, 'father of elevation;' but was altered by God into ABRAHAM, 'father of a multitude.' In this name (Abraham) the blessing of the Gentiles is secured by God. The family dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees, and were idolaters. Jos 24:2. Abraham was the first to receive a definite call from God to leave not only the idolatrous nation to which his ancestors belonged, but to leave his kindred and his father's house and to go into a land that God would show him. God would bless him and make him a blessing, and bless all who blessed him and would curse all who cursed him. Ge 12:1-3. He thus became the depositary of God's promise and blessing. Abraham at first only partially obeyed the call: he left Ur and went to dwell at Haran, in Mesopotamia (Charran in Ac 7:4), but with his father and kindred; and did not enter Canaan until the death of his father. When in the land God promised that unto his seed He would give the land. Abraham built an altar, and called upon the name of Jehovah. A famine occurring in the land Abraham went to sojourn in Egypt, and for want of faith he called Sarai his sister and she was taken into the house of Pharaoh, but the Lord protected her, and Abraham with his wife was sent away with a rebuke. When near Bethel he could again call on the name of the Lord. He had now become so rich in cattle that disputes arose between his herdsmen and those of Lot, and Abraham asked Lot to choose where he would sojourn, if he went to the right Abraham would go to the left; and they separated. Again Jehovah declared that as far as Abraham's eye could reach in all directions the land should belong to his seed. The next recorded event is that Lot was taken prisoner and carried to the north. Abraham pursued the enemy and recovered all. He refused to take even a thread of the spoil from the king of Sodom: he would not be made rich from such a source; but he was blessed by Melchisedec, king of Salem, the priest of the most high God, who brought forth bread and wine: to whom Abraham gave tenths of all. See MELCHISEDEC. God now revealed Himself to Abraham as His shield and exceeding great reward.
When Abraham lamented to God that he had no son, God declared that he should have a son, and that his seed should be as the stars of the heaven for multitude. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. This is the first time that faith is spoken of. Still he asked whereby should he know that his seed should possess the land, and was told to take a heifer, a she goat, and a ram, all of three years old, a turtle dove and a young pigeon. These he divided in the midst, except the birds, and laid them one against another. When the sun went down a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passed between the pieces: type of the fire that consumes the dross, and a light for the path. The same day God made a covenant with Abraham that to his seed should the land be given from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates : cf. Jer 34:18-19: it had been ratified in death, a type of Christ. When Abraham had fallen into a deep sleep, he was informed that his seed should be in a strange land, and be afflicted 400 years. Gen. 15 See ISRAEL IN EGYPT.
Abraham had believed that God would give him a son, but now he waits not God's time, and at Sarai's suggestion he associates with Hagar, a bondmaid, and Ishmael is born, Gen. 16.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then the LORD said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred; and out of thy father's house, into a land which I will show thee. And I will make of thee a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, that thou mayst be a blessing. read more. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall be blessed all the generations of the earth."
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice."
And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the water in old time even Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, and served strange gods.
Art not thou our God which didst cast out the inhabiters of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy lover forever?
And thou Israel, my servant; Jacob, my elect seed of Abraham my beloved,
Yea, those men that have broken my covenant, and not kept the words of the covenant which they made before me - when they hewed the calf in two, and when there went through the two halves thereof - The princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the gelded men, the Priests and all the people of the land, which went through the two sides of the calf.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, call I you not servants: For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But you have I called friends: For all things that I have heard of my father, I have opened to you.
Then came he out of the land of Chaldea and dwelt in Haran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, he brought him into this land, in which ye now dwell,
Therefore by faith is the inheritance given, that it might come of favour: and that the promise might be sure to all the seed. Not to them only which are of the law: but also to them which are of the faith of Abraham, which is the father of us all.
that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Jesus Christ, and that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith. Brethren, I will speak after the manner of men. Though it be but a man's testament, yet no man despiseth it, or addeth anything thereto when it is once allowed. read more. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, "in the seeds," as in many: But, "in thy seed," as in one, which is Christ. This I say, that the law which began afterward, beyond four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul the testament, that was confirmed afore of God unto Christ ward, to make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance come of the law, it cometh not of promise: but God gave it unto Abraham by promise.
If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs by promise.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. Yea, and he which was of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh: but he which was of the freewoman, was born by promise. read more. Which things betoken mystery. For these women are two testaments, the one from the mount Sinai, which gendreth unto bondage, which is Hagar. - For mount Sinai is called Hagar in Arabia, and bordereth upon the city which is now Jerusalem - and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath a husband." Brethren, we are, after the manner of Isaac, children of promise: But as then he that was born carnally, persecuted him that was born spiritually; Even so is it now. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? "Put away the bondwoman and her son. For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman: but of the freewoman.
By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
Smith
A'braham
(father of a multitude) was the son of Terah, and founder of the great Hebrew nation. (B.C. 1996-1822.) His family, a branch of the descendants of Shem, was settled in Ur of the Chaldees, beyond the Euphrates, where Abraham was born. Terah had two other sons, Nahor and Haran. Haran died before his father in Ur of the Chaldees, leaving a son, Lot; and Terah, taking with him Abram, with Sarai his wife and his grandson Lot, emigrated to Haran in Mesopotamia, where he died. On the death of his father, Abram, then in the 75th year of his age, with Sarai and Lot, pursued his course to the land of Canaan, whither he was directed by divine command,
when he received the general promise that he should become the founder of a great nation, and that all the families of the earth should be blessed in him. He passed through the heart of the country by the great highway to Shechem, and pitched his tent beneath the terebinth of Moreh.
Here he received in vision from Jehovah the further revelation that this was the land which his descendants should inherit.
The next halting-place of the wanderer was on a mountain between Bethel and Ai,
but the country was suffering from famine, and Abram journeyed still southward to the rich cornlands of Egypt. There, fearing that the great beauty of Sarai might tempt the powerful monarch of Egypt and expose his own life to peril, he arranged that Sarai should represent herself as his sister, which her actual relationship to him, as probably the daughter of his brother Haran, allowed her to do with some semblance of truth. But her beauty was reported to the king, and she was taken into the royal harem. The deception was discovered, and Pharaoh with some indignation dismissed Abram from the country.
He left Egypt with great possessions, and, accompanied by Lot, returned by the south of Palestine to his former encampment between Bethel and Ai. The increased wealth of the two kinsmen was the ultimate cause of their separation. Lot chose the fertile plain of the Jordan near Sodom, while Abram pitched his tent among the groves of Mamre, close to Hebron.
... Lot with his family and possessions having been carried away captive by Chedorlaomer king of Elam, who had invaded Sodom, Abram pursued the conquerors and utterly routed them not far from Damascus. The captives and plunder were all recovered, and Abram was greeted on his return by the king of Sodom, and by Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who mysteriously appears upon the scene to bless the patriarch and receive from him a tenth of the spoil.
... After this the thrice-repeated promise that his descendants should become a mighty nation and possess the land in which he was a stranger was confirmed with all the solemnity of a religious ceremony.
... Ten years had passed since he had left his father's house, and the fulfillment of the promise was apparently more distant than at first. At the suggestion of Sarai, who despaired of having children of her own, he took as his concubine Hagar, her Egyptian main, who bore him Ishmael in the 86th year of his age.
... [HAGAR; ISHMAEL] But this was not the accomplishment of the promise. Thirteen years elapsed, during which Abram still dwelt in Hebron, when the covenant was renewed, and the rite of circumcision established as its sign. This most important crisis in Abram's life, when he was 99 years old, is marked by the significant change of his name to Abraham, "father of a multitude;" while his wife's from Sarai became Sarah. The promise that Sarah should have a son was repeated in the remarkable scene described in ch. 18. Three men stood before Abraham as he sat in his tent door in the heat of the day. The patriarch, with true Eastern hospitality, welcomed the strangers, and bade them rest and refresh themselves. The meal ended, they foretold the birth of Isaac, and went on their way to Sodom. Abraham accompanied them, and is represented as an interlocutor in a dialogue with Jehovah, in which he pleaded in vain to avert the vengeance threatened to the devoted cities of the plain.
See Hagar
See Ishmael
In remarkable contrast with Abraham's firm faith with regard to the magnificent fortunes of his posterity stand the incident which occurred during his temporary residence among the Philistines in Gerar, whither he had for some cause removed after the destruction of Sodom. It was almost a repetition of what took place in Egypt a few years before. At length Isaac, the long-looked for child, was born. Sarah's jealousy aroused by the mockery of Ishmael at the "great banquet" which Abram made to celebrate the weaning of her son,
demanded that, with his mother Hagar, he should be driven out.
But the severest trial of his faith was yet to come. For a long period the history is almost silent. At length he receives the strange command to take Isaac, his only son, and offer him for a burnt offering at an appointed place Abraham hesitated not to obey. His faith, hitherto unshaken, supported him in this final trial, "accounting that God was able to raise up his son, even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure."
The sacrifice was stayed by the angel of Jehovah, the promise of spiritual blessing made for the first time, and Abraham with his son returned to Beersheba, and for a time dwelt there.
... But we find him after a few years in his original residence at Hebron, for there Sarah died,
and was buried in the cave of Machpelah. The remaining years of Abraham's life are marked by but few incidents. After Isaac's marriage with Rebekah and his removal to Lahai-roi, Abraham took to wife Keturah, by whom he had six children, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbok and Shuah, who became the ancestors of nomadic tribes inhabiting the countries south and southeast of Palestine. Abraham lived to see the gradual accomplishment of the promise in the birth of his grandchildren Jacob and Esau, and witnessed their growth to manhood.
At the goodly age of 175 he was "gathered to his people," and laid beside Sarah in the tomb of Machpelah by his sons Isaac and Ishmael.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother's son, with all their goods which they had gotten, and souls which they had begotten in Haran. And they departed to go into the land of Canaan. And when they were come into the land of Canaan, Abram went forth into the land till he came unto a place called Shechem, and unto the oak of Moreh. And the Cananites dwelled then in the land. read more. Then the LORD appeared unto Abram and said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." And he built an altar there unto the LORD which appeared to him. Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
After this there came a dearth in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the dearth was sore in the land. And when he was come nigh for to enter into Egypt, he said unto Sarai his wife, "Behold, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon. read more. It will come to pass, therefore, when the Egyptians see thee, that they will say, 'she is his wife.' And so shall they slay me and save thee. Say, I pray thee therefore, that thou art my sister; that I may fare the better by reason of thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake." As soon as he came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman that she was very fair. And Pharaoh's lords saw her also, and praised her unto Pharaoh, so that she was taken into Pharaoh's house; which entreated Abram well for her sake, so that he had sheep, oxen and he-asses, men servants, maid servants, she-asses and camels. But God plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai, Abram's wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "Why hast thou thus dealt with me? Wherefore toldest thou me not that she was thy wife? Why saidest thou that she was thy sister, and causedest me to take her to my wife? But now, lo, there is thy wife: take her and be walking." Pharaoh also gave a charge unto his men over Abram, to lead him out, with his wife and all that he had.
Then Abram departed out of Egypt; both he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him unto the south.
And it chanced within a while, that Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of the nations:
After these deeds, the word of God came unto Abram in a vision, saying, "Fear not Abram, I am thy shield; and thy reward shall be exceeding great."
Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no children. But she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Sara saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, a mocking. Then she said unto Abraham, "Put away this bondmaid and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac."
After these deeds, God did prove Abraham and said unto him, "Abraham." And he answered, "Here am I."
and then died in a head-city called Hebron in the land of Canaan. Then Abraham came to mourn Sara and to weep for her.
These are the days of the life of Abraham which he lived: a hundred and seventy five years and then fell sick and died, in a lusty age - when he had lived enough - and was put unto his people. read more. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the double cave in the field of Ephron, son of Zoar the Hittite before Mamre. Which field Abraham bought of the sons of Heth: There was Abraham buried, and Sara his wife.
And afterward his brother came out, and his hand holding Esau by the heel. Wherefore his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was forty years old when she bare them:
For he considered that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, for an example of the resurrection.