Genesis 12:10

Genesis 12:10

And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

a. NLT: At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.

b. NIV: Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

c. YLT: And there is a famine in the land, and Abram goeth down towards Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine is grievous in the land;

d. Amplified Bible: Now there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive and severe.

e. Septuagint: And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, because the famine prevailed in the land.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: There was a famine in the land, and Abram descended to Egypt to sojourn there for the famine was severe in the land.

1. “And there was a famine in the land…”

a. there was a famine [7458 *  ra`ab] [Strong: from 7456; hunger (more or less extensive):--dearth, famine, + famished, hunger.]

b. in the land [776 * 'erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

2. “…and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there…”

a. Abram [87 * 'Abram] [Strong: contracted from 48; high father; Abram, the original name of Abraham:--Abram.]

b. went down [3381 * yarad] [Strong: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.]

c. into Egypt [4714 * Mitsrayim] [Strong: dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.]

d. to sojourn [1481 * guwr] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather for hostility (as afraid):--abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in awe, (be) stranger, X surely.]

3. “…for the famine was grievous in the land.”

a. for the famine [7458 *  ra`ab] [Strong: from 7456; hunger (more or less extensive):--dearth, famine, + famished, hunger.]

b. was grievous [3515 * kabed] [Strong: from 3513; heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid):--(so) great, grievous, hard(-ened), (too) heavy(-ier), laden, much, slow, sore, thick.]

c. in the land [776 * 'erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). It was never God’s will for Abram to go to Egypt. It is clear from the wording here Abram made the decision to go on into Egypt because of the famine, not because of any instruction from God. In spite of God’s promise that He would bless Abram, Abram went down to Egypt. In the first recorded appearance of God to Abram he was told to leave Ur and go to the land he would show him.

a). Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

2). When he arrived in Canaan the first place he stopped was at Sichem [Shechem]. It was here that Abram built an altar and God again appeared to him and told him he was where he supposed to be.

a). Genesis 12:4-7  So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

12:7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

 3). Perhaps in the spirit of seeing the land Abram continued to travel south for about 20 more miles and camped between Bethel and Ai. The Scripture says Abram built an altar there but it does not mention God appearing to him this time.

a). Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.