PART II THE PATRIARCH ABRAHAM

Now after eight generations raised out of Sem there was born a descendent called Thare, and Abram, Nahor, and Aran were three sons that his wife to him did bear. And Aran became the father of Lot, but Aran died before his father in Ur. Abram took Sarai and made her his wife, but she was barren; no children were hers. And Nahor took as his wife Melcha who was herself the daughter of Aran who was also the father of Jescha, of Sarai. Thare took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, Aran's son, and Sarai, and led them from Ur, toward the land of Chanaan, but reaching Haran, they stopped and they all settled there.

ABRAM'S CALL CHAPTER TWELVE

The Lord said to Abram, "Leave behind your country, your kinsfolk, your father's house, too, for the land I will show you; for I shall make a great nation to spring forth from you. I will bless you and make your name great on earth so that a blessing you shall be. I will bless them who bless you and curse them who curse you. All nations shall be blessed in thee." Abram went away as the Lord had bid and Lot went with him, as well as Sarai, his wife, and all property they had acquired while they did dwell in Haran. And they departed from Chanaan, and when they came into that land, Abram passed through the sacred place at Sichem with the tenebirth at More near at hand. The Chanaanite was in the land at that time, but to Abram the Lord appeared and revealed, "To you and your descendants I will give this land." So an altar to the Lord he did build there, and then moved to the mountain region east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, built an altar and called on the name of the Lord, and then on toward the Negeb he went.

ABRAM IN EGYPT DURING THE FAMINE

Now, there was a famine in the land and down to Egypt did Abram go where he lived as a stranger, for the famine was severe, and he said to Sarai, "I know that you are a woman beautiful to behold. When the Egyptians see you, they will say 'She is his wife,' and they'll kill me but spare you; therefore, you will say that you are my sister, so I may be dealt with well, and my life will be saved." When Abram came to Egypt, they praised her beauty; even to Pharaoh they raved. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. On account of her, he treated Abram well and he received flocks and herds and animals and many servants, where he did dwell. But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with great plagues because of Sarai. The Pharaoh summoned Abram to him and said, "Thou has done this to me. Why did you not tell me she was your wife? I would not have married her did I know she was not your sister. Here is your wife. Take her then and go." And then Pharaoh gave orders to his men concerning Abram; and then they took him and his wife and what belonged to them and made them to go away. Continue