And for her sake he dealt well with Abram: for her sake means because of Sarai, because of who she was, or because the king thought she was Abram’s sister. He dealt well with Abram is literally “he did good to Abram.” The thought is well expressed by Good News Translation: “The king treated Abram well.” In some languages for her sake must be placed after the main clause.

And he had … is literally “and he had to him,” which means that the king gave things to Abram, or Abram received them from the king. The list of gifts Abram received are those things that made up the wealth of the patriarchs or ancestors of the Israelites. See for example the description of the wealth of Abraham in 24.35, and that of Jacob in 32.14-15; see also Job 1.3; 42.12. The term sheep includes both sheep and goats. Oxen translates a word referring to cattle generally and not only work oxen. He-asses, or male donkeys, is separated from she-asses, or female donkeys. Some translations place these two together as “donkeys” (Good News Translation). New English Bible and Revised English Bible keep them separate as Revised Standard Version does. New English Bible translates “asses … she-asses” and Revised English Bible “donkeys … she-donkeys.” The females had greater value for their milk and productivity. Although camels were probably not yet introduced into Egypt at this time, they were doubtlessly known and could be obtained from traders, according to Driver. Westermann views this list as being meant to portray the traditional wealth of the patriarch to listeners at a later age when the camel was commonly associated with wealth in livestock.

Menservants, maidservants translates two words referring to male and female slaves. For discussion of “slave” see comments on 9.25-27.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .