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Genesis 12:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 12:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
Genesis 12:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.
8And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah.
9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.
11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Abram journeyed, etc.] He did not stay long in the mountain between Bethel and Hai, but moved from thence, and kept on journeying in the land of Canaan: going on still toward the south; the southern part of the land of Canaan, which lay nearest Egypt, into which he is said to go next, the occasion of which follows.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- The Call of Abram 6. שׁכם shekem Shekem, “the upper part of the back.” Here it is the name of a person, the owner of this place, where afterward is built the town called at first Shekem, then Flavia Neapolis, and now Nablous. אלון 'ēlôn “the oak;” related: “be lasting, strong.” מורה môreh In Onkelos “plain;” Moreh, “archer, early rain, teacher.” Here the name of a man who owned the oak that marked the spot. In the Septuagint it is rendered ὑψηγήν hupseegeen. 8. בית־אל bēyt-'êl, Bethel, “house of God.” ים yam “sea, great river, west.” עי ‛ay, ‘Ai, “heap.” 9. נגב negeb “south.” The narrative now takes leave of the rest of the Shemites, as well as the other branches of the human…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification