Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 5. The souls that they had gotten in Haran] This may apply either to the persons who were employed in the service of Abram, or to the persons he had been the instrument of converting to the knowledge of the true God; and in this latter sense the Chaldee paraphrasts understood the passage, translating it, The souls of those whom they proselyted in Haran.
They went forth to go into the land of Canaan] A good land, possessed by a bad people, who for their iniquities were to be expelled, see Lev. xviii. 25. And this land was made a type of the kingdom of God. Probably the whole of this transaction may have a farther meaning than that which appears in the letter. As Abram left his own country, father's house, and kindred, took at the command of God a journey to this promised land, nor ceased till be arrived in it; so should we cast aside every weight, come out from among the workers of iniquity, set out for the kingdom of God, nor ever rest till we reach the heavenly country. How many set out for the kingdom of heaven, make good progress for a time in their journey, but halt before the race is finished! Not so Abram; he went forth to go into the land of Canaan, and into the land of Canaan he came. Reader, go thou and do likewise.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4, 5 - Abram believed that the blessing of the Almighty would make up for all he could lose or leave behind, supply all his wants, and answer an exceed all his desires; and he knew that nothing but misery woul follow disobedience. Such believers, being justified by faith in Christ, have peace with God. They hold on their way to Canaan. They ar not discouraged by the difficulties in their way, nor drawn aside by the delights they meet with. Those who set out for heaven mus persevere to the end. What we undertake, in obedience to God's command and in humble attendance on his providence, will certainly succeed, an end with comfort at last. Canaan was not, as other lands, a mer outward possession, but a type of heaven, and in this respect the patriarchs so earnestly prized it.
Original Hebrew ויקח3947 אברם87 את853 שׂרי8297 אשׁתו802 ואת853 לוט3876 בן1121 אחיו251 ואת853 כל3605 רכושׁם7399 אשׁר834 רכשׁו7408 ואת853 הנפשׁ5315 אשׁר834 עשׂו6213 בחרן2771 ויצאו3318 ללכת1980 ארצה776 כנען3667 ויבאו935 ארצה776 כנען׃3667
