Genesis 12:16

And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

And he entreated {H3190} Abram {H87} well {H3190} for her sake: and he had sheep {H6629}, and oxen {H1241}, and he asses {H2543}, and menservants {H5650}, and maidservants {H8198}, and she asses {H860}, and camels {H1581}.

He treated Avram well for her sake, giving him sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels.

He treated Abram well on her account, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.

Commentary

Genesis 12:16 describes the material wealth Abram accumulated while in Egypt, a direct consequence of his deceptive act concerning his wife, Sarai, whom he presented as his sister to Pharaoh. This verse highlights Pharaoh's lavish treatment of Abram for Sarai's sake, providing him with a substantial array of livestock and servants.

Context

This verse follows Abram's decision to go down to Egypt due to a severe famine in Canaan (Genesis 12:10). Fearing that the Egyptians would kill him to take his beautiful wife, Sarai, Abram instructed her to say she was his sister (Genesis 12:13). Pharaoh, impressed by Sarai's beauty, took her into his household and, as a customary act of generosity to her supposed brother, bestowed significant gifts upon Abram. The gifts listed in this verse represent considerable wealth in that ancient Near Eastern culture, establishing Abram as a very rich man.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence Amidst Human Failing: Despite Abram's lack of faith and deceptive actions, God's protective hand is evident. Pharaoh's actions, though based on a lie, inadvertently contribute to Abram's material prosperity, which was part of God's broader plan to bless him and make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2). This does not condone Abram's sin but showcases God's ability to work through imperfect circumstances and people.
  • The Nature of Wealth in the Ancient World: The detailed list of possessions—sheep, oxen, asses (both male and female), menservants, maidservants, and camels—illustrates the primary forms of wealth and status in the patriarchal period. Livestock represented mobile capital and sustenance, while servants indicated labor and social standing.
  • Consequences (Both Immediate and Future): While Abram immediately gains wealth, his deception also leads to a plague on Pharaoh's house (Genesis 12:17) and his eventual expulsion from Egypt. This incident also sets a concerning precedent, as Abram repeats a similar deception with Abimelech in Gerar (Genesis 20:2), and Isaac later follows suit (Genesis 26:7).

Significance and Application

Genesis 12:16 reminds us that God's faithfulness to His covenant promises is not dependent on the perfection of His people. Even when we falter in faith or resort to less-than-honorable means, God can still sovereignly work to fulfill His purposes. However, it also serves as a subtle warning that while immediate material gain might occur through compromise, such actions often lead to complications and do not reflect the trust and integrity God desires from His followers. It underscores the importance of walking by faith, not by fear, and trusting God to provide and protect according to His will, even in challenging circumstances.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 20:14 (5 votes)

    ¶ And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

  • Genesis 13:2 (3 votes)

    And Abram [was] very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

  • Job 42:12 (2 votes)

    So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

  • Genesis 32:5 (2 votes)

    And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

  • Genesis 32:13 (2 votes)

    ¶ And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

  • Genesis 32:15 (2 votes)

    Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

  • Psalms 144:13 (2 votes)

    [That] our garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store: [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: