Genesis 12

The Call of Abram

12The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you.H3068H559H87H3212H776H4138H1H1004H776H72002I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.H6213H1419H1471H1288H1431H8034H1431H12933I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."H1288H1288H779H7043H4940H127H12884So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.H87H3212H3068H1696H3876H3212H87H7657H8141H2568H8141H1121H3318H27715He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,H87H3947H8297H802H3876H251H1121H7399H7408H5315H6213H2771H3318H3212H776H3667H776H3667H9356Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.H87H5674H776H4725H7927H436H4176H3669H227H7767Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your descendants

." And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him.H3068H7200H87H559H2233H5414H2063H776H1129H4196H3068H72008After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the LORD, and he worshiped the LORD.H6275H2022H6924H1008H5186H168H1008H3220H5857H6924H1129H4196H3068H7121H8034H30689Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.H87H5265H1980H5265H5045

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.H7458H776H87H3381H4714H1481H7458H3515H77611As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, "Look, you are a very beautiful woman.H834H7126H935H4714H559H8297H802H2009H4994H3045H3303H802H475812When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!'H4713H7200H559H802H2026H242113So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you."H559H4994H269H4616H3190H5315H2421H155814And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai's beauty.H87H935H4714H4713H7200H802H3966H330315When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.H8269H6547H7200H1984H413H6547H802H3947H6547H100416Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.H3190H87H3190H6629H1241H2543H5650H8198H860H158117But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram's wife.H3068H5060H6547H1004H1419H5061H1697H8297H87H80218So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. "What have you done to me?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?H6547H7121H87H559H6213H5046H80219Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!"H559H269H3947H802H802H3947H321220Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.H6547H6680H582H7971H802