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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Genesis, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
God, Humanity, and Creation
Mistrust, Disobedience, and Death
Covenants and Faith in God’s Promises
The Role of Women
Summary
Analysis
Abram—who is wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold—journeys with his household from the Negeb to Bethel to Ai. At Ai, where Abram had earlier established an altar, he calls upon the LORD’s name. Meanwhile, Lot and Abram part ways, because the land can’t contain both men’s herds. Lot settles in the plain of the Jordan, placing his tent near Sodom, and Abram settles in the land of Canaan.
Now that Abram has been sent out from Egypt, he journeys north again and settles in Canaan’s hill country. Both Abram and his nephew Lot are wealthy men, meaning there would be competition for land, and they must stake out different settlements.
Themes
After Lot’s departure, the LORD tells Abram to look around. God will give Abram all the land he can see, to him and his offspring forever. What’s more, Abram’s offspring will become so numerous that they will be like the dust of the earth. Abram settles by the oaks of Mamre at Hebron and builds an altar to the LORD.
God reaffirms the promise he has made to Abram. The promise includes both land and offspring to fill the land—two elements of a great nation. Yet, so far, Abram remains childless, which raises the question of how God will fulfill his promise.
Themes
