The Calling of Abram

(Genesis 26:1-5)

1Now the LORD had said to Abram, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you:

2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing:

3And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6And Abram passed through the land to the place of Sichem, to the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7And the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, To your seed will I give this land: and there built he an altar to the LORD, who appeared to him. 8And he removed from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an altar to the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD. 9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that you are a fair woman to look on: 12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see you, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save you alive. 13Say, I pray you, you are my sister: that it may be well with me for your sake; and my soul shall live because of you. 14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16And 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.

17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 18And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that you have done to me? why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19Why said you, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold your wife, take her, and go your way. 20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.