Genesis 11-25

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Home > The Old Testament > Genesis > Chapters 11c-25a

Subpages: Chapters 11c-19  •  20-25a

Previous page: Chapter 11b                      Next page: Chapters 11c-19


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

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Relationship to Genesis. The relationship of Chapters 11c-25a to the rest of Genesis is discussed at Genesis.

Story. Chapters 11c-25a consist of the Abraham cycle, the second of the four major sections of Genesis. Chapters 11c-25a tell the origin of the Abrahamic Covenant and the story of Abraham's life. This cycle of stories consists of thirteen major sections:

  • Chapter 11c-12: Abraham travels to Haran, Canaan, and Egypt.
  • Chapter 13-14: Abraham and Lot in Canaan.
  • Chapter 15: Abrahamic covenant renewed.
  • Chapter 16: Birth of Ishmael.
  • Chapter 17: Covenant of circumcision.
  • Chapter 18-19: Destruction of Sodom.
  • Chapter 20: Abraham and Abimelech reconciled.
  • Chapter 21a: Birth of Isaac.
  • Chapter 21b: Treaty with Abimelech.
  • Chapter 22: Abraham offers Isaac in sacrifice.
  • Chapter 23: Death of Sarah, purchase of cave.
  • Chapter 24: Covenant wife for Isaac.
  • Chapter 25a: Abraham's other children and his death.

Outline. An outline of the complete book of Genesis, including Chapters 11c-25a, is found at Genesis: Outline and page map.

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Chapters 11c-25a include:

Discussion

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Abraham's ten trials

There are 10 trials typically (esp. in Jewish tradition) associated with Abraham's life. Umberto Cassuto (Commentary on Genesis, v. 2, pp. 294-96) suggests the following chiastic structure to these 10 trials:

1. Father-son separation: Abraham departs Haran [12:1-4]
2. Sarai is in danger (from Pharoah in Egypt) but escapes [12:10-13:4]
3. Lot departs [13:5-18]
4. Lot is in jeopardy (captured by kings) then saved by Abraham [14]
5. Hagar leaves but returns and bears Ishmael [16]
6. Sarah is (almost) barren but is promised Isaac [17-18:15]
7. Lot is in jeopardy (in Sodom & Gomorrah) then is saved for Abraham's sake [18:17-19:28]
8. Sarah is in danger (from Abimilech) but escapes [20:1-21:7]
9. Hagar and Ishmael depart [21:8-34]
10. Go to the land of Moriah for a father-son separation [22]

Unanswered questions

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Prompts for life application

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Prompts for further study

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Resources

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Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.


Subpages: Chapters 11c-19  •  20-25a

Previous page: Chapter 11b                      Next page: Chapters 11c-19

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