When Abram was ninety-nine years old1, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty2; walk before me, and be blameless3. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous." Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham4; for I have made5 you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.6"
God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised7. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people8; he has broken my covenant."
God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her9, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations10; kings of peoples shall come from her."
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed11, and said to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live in your sight!"
God said, "No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son12, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him13 and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year14." And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day15, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised; and all the men of his house, slaves born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
[1] This account of God appearing to Abram is taken as a "priestly" account, as opposed to the Yahwist accounts before it. In this account Abram is much older when God appears to him.
[2] "God Almighty" is how the Hebrew term "'el shadday" is translated here. In the "priestly" account God does not reveal his name YHWH until Moses, so an ancient name of God is used here. There is still major debate on what "'el shadday" actually means in translation.
[3] Abram is told to be blameless in this account, as Enoch and Noah were in previous priestly accounts.
[4] The first example in Genesis of God changing a name to signify a new phase of life.
[5] Past tense! God has already made him the ancestor of many nations. Though it has not happened in Abraham's time frame, it is as good as done.
[6] Land and fertility are once again the promises.
[7] Circumcision - a new physical sign. The sign is only for male Hebrews.
[8] An earthly means to enforce the covenant - it's not just a heavenly judgement.
[9] The blessing is given to a woman as well.
[10] Nations are mentioned for the fourth time.
[11] Abraham expresses doubt. I'm used to Sarah being the laughing doubter.
[12] God takes the doubt in stride and reaffirms his promise.
[13] As in the other account, Ishmael is blessed, but this time because of Abraham's concern rather than Hagar's cry.
[14] The first place where a specific timing is placed on the promise.
[15] Abraham obeys immediately.
Take-home: This account of God's promise to Abram is different - Abram is older, he is told to be "blameless", names are given for him, Sarai, and their promised son, circumcision is included, Abram laughs, and Ishmael is blessed because of Abram's request, not Hagar's cry. Still, the major themes are the same - God is promising Abram land, fertility, and an influence of many nations, God keeps his promise despite Abram's doubt, and Abram is quick to worship God.
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