Genesis 13 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot Separate

13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.¹ 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.

14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks² of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 13:8 Hebrew we are men, brothers
[2] 13:18 Or terebinths

Commentary

v1-4: Abram journeys back from Egypt, through the Negev, the desert to the south of Canaan. He arrives at Bethel, to renew his fellowship with God. The altar (Genesis 12:6-9) becomes a place of restoration.

v5-7: Strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. This is another indication of their growing wealth. The Canaanites and Perizzites live in the area, and doubtless witness something of their strife. There is a lesson here is how we deal with our disagreements. What do unbelievers see of disagreements between Christians?

v8-9: Abram takes the initiative in dealing with the problem. As the senior, Abram could have first choice of the land, but he graciously allows Lot to have first choice.

"We are brothers", he says, even in the disagreement and separation, see Acts 15:37-39. The chapter refers to their parting, or separating, see v11, 14.

v10-12: Lot's choice;

because it was like the garden of the Lord, physically well watered;
but near the city of Sodom, spiritually a place of danger.

There were likely to have been several choices, not just two. "Lot chose all he could get, but it was not much. Abram let God choose for him, and was given all the land." (DL Moody, Men of the Bible.)

v13: If people are wicked and sinful, we should avoid associating with them.

v14-17: Immediately after Lot leaves Abram, there is a fresh promise from the Lord; all the land, numerous descendants, a blessing that cannot be shared with Lot.

There is a command to walk through the land, to survey all that God promises; yet the promises do not depend on him doing so.

v18: Again, Abram builds an altar; another step in his experience of God.