The Events of the Period.  The events of this period may be put down somewhat as follows:  (1) Abraham’s call and settlement in Canaan, chs. 12-13. (2) The rescue of Lot from the plundering kings of the North, ch. 14. (3) God makes a covenant with Abraham, ch. 15. (4) The birth and disposal of Ishmael, ch. 16. (5) The Promise of Isaac, ch. 17. (8) The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, chs. 18-19. (7) Abraham lives at Gerar.  Isaac is born and sacrificed, chs. 20-22. (8) Sarah’s death, ch. 23. (9) Isaac is married, ch. 24. (10) Abraham and Ishmael die and Isaac’s two sons, ch. 25. (11) Isaac dwells in Gerar and Jacob steals his brother’s birthright, chs. 26-27. (12) Jacob’s experiences as a fugitive and his roll and settlement in Canaan, chs. 28-36.  Joseph’s career and the settlement of the nation in Egypt, chs. 37-50.

The Purpose of Narrative.  In this section we have given us, in brief form, the career of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their families and how we received the promises through them.  Ages have passed since Noah and the people had grown wicked and turned from Jehovah to other gods.  God had promised not to destroy the world with another flood, but he must employ other and new means.  He, therefore, selects a man and in him a nation that should be his representative on earth.  With this man and nation God would deposit his truth and in it the hopes of the race until the time when Christ the redeemer should come.

We pass, therefore, from the consideration of the beginnings of the history of the race and from the general history to the story of one man, Abraham and the chosen family and nation.  All the rest of the Old Testament is an account of the victories and defeats of this nation.

The Conditions of the Times.  At the time of Abraham three countries are of special interest, Chaldea, Egypt and Canaan.  Outwardly there was a splendid civilization as is shown by the monuments.  There were great cities with splendid palaces, temples and libraries.  “There were workers in fabrics, metals, stones, implements and ornaments.”  Time was divided as now and sun-dials showed the time of day.  Great systems of canals existed and the country was in a high state of cultivation.  The pyramids were already old and a great stone wall had long ago been built across the isthmus of Suez to prevent the immigrants and enemies of the north from coming down upon them.  In Tyre and Sidon there were great glass works and dying factories.  There were also vast harbors crowded with sea going ships.  Luxurious living was to be found everywhere.

Inwardly, however, there was a corrupt moral condition, which was hastening the nations to decay and to a ruin such as amazes all the world to this day.  Ur of the Chaldees, the birth place and home of Abraham, was the seat of the great temple of the moon-god, and this sanctuary became so famous that the moon-god was known throughout all northern Syria as the Baal or Lord of Haran.  The bad state of the times is suggested by Sodom and Gomorrah and their fate.  For these cities were perhaps only typical of the entire civilization of the time.