Lesson 18

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CHAPTER TWELVE [Gen. 12:1-20].

Verse Seven [Gen. 12:7]. An advance is made in the mode of revelation. God now appears to Abram at Shechem. Abram evidently realizes that there is an advance in God's method of revelation, for he builds an altar. Altars wore usually built at the place where God appeared. Cf. Genesis 13:4; 33:20; 35:1-7. The student should trace the journey of Abram upon a map of Palestine. The name Shechem is mentioned in an Egyptian inscription of the 19th century B. C. In the lowest stratum of the excavations at Shechem potsherds have been found which are from the time of Abram. Thus we have a remarkable archaeological confirmation of the Scripture.

Verse Eight [Gen. 12:8]. The town of Ai has been identified, and pottery has there been found which is from the time of Abram. The identification of Bethel is not yet certain.

Verse Ten [Gen. 12:10]. Note that the narrative of Abram's life is told in the terms of biography. There are long intervals of his life of which we know nothing. The famine was in Palestine, therefore Abram goes to Egypt to escape it.

Verse Sixteen [Gen. 12:16]. It is interesting to note that the horse is not mentioned here. At this time there were no horses in Egypt. This verse is an interesting confirmation of the historicity of the narrative. A picture in one of the tombs of Egypt shows a Pharaoh welcoming a man from Palestine. The name of the man is Ib-sha'a, a Syrian chief. This confirms the fact that "going down to Egypt to sojourn" was not an unusual thing.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN [Gen. 13:1-18]. Sodom and Gomorrah were at the southern end of the Dead Sea, and today are probably covered by its waters. Note how important this chapter is in studying the character of Abram.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN [Gen. 14:1-24]. This chapter is characterized by the fact that it uses archaic words and place names which occur nowhere else in the Bible. The word for 'trained servants" (Gen. 14:14) occurs nowhere else in the Bible, but it has been found on some tablets at Taanach in Palestine. The names of Ellasar, Arioch, and Chedorlaomer have been found on the monuments. It is possible that Amraphel is Hammurabi. The student should trace the route of these eastern kings upon the map, and let him also trace Abram's route in pursuing them to Dan. Study diligently the inspired commentary upon Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1 ff.

EXERCISES

In Genesis 12:7 what advance is made in God's method of revelation?

With a concordance, look up every reference to Shechem and write a brief history of this city.

Do the same thing for every Old Testament reference to Bethel.

Do the same thing for every Old Testament reference to Ai.

What shows that Genesis 12:16 is an accurate account?

What characterizes chapter fourteen ?

What does the New Testament say about Melchizedek? (Note: Melchizedek seems to be the representative of an earlier, pre-Abrahamic knowledge of the true God.)

HYMNS FOR STUDY

No. 4: "Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing."

No. 336: "The Sands Of Time Are Sinking."