Study Desk

Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you."

For twelve years they had been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.

Then the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea.

The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies.

And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered."

Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great."

Then the Lord said to him, "No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir."

Then the Lord said to Abram, "You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.

(As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.)

After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction."

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

And the angel also said, "You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears'), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.

What's more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.

Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant."

But God replied, "No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

"My lord," he said, "if it pleases you, stop here for a while.

Is anything too hard for the Lord ? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

"For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.