XII. 1-9

Abraham comes to Canaan (J, except 4b, 5, which is P).

2f. a blessing, i.e. greatly blessed.

be blessed. i.e. bless themselves; so in 22.18, 26.4 ; i.e. say “may we be as blessed as Abraham”.

4. Abraham’s great age is a trait of P, not J, and is in line with the still greater ages of his predecessors.

6f. The high places of Canaan were largely taken over by the Hebrews when they conquered the land. The priests of Shechem and Bethel will have claimed Abraham as their founder.

terebinth (rather than oak) of Moreh, i.e. the instructor, oracle-giver. Shows an original cult of sacred trees.

South (Heb. negeb). Always in the technical sense, when printed with a capital S, of the semi-fertile country between Judah and the desert.

10-20. Abram’s visit to Egypt (J). Similar stories recur in 20 and 26. famine. From which Egypt with its yearly overflow of the Nile would be exempt.

a fair woman. Abraham’s age of 75 belongs to the later P source.

Pharaoh. Generic name of the Egyptian kings = “great house”.

he had sheep, etc., i.e. he (Abraham) received, etc. Probably the narrator approves Sarah’s willingness to sacrifice herself for her husband.