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Genesis 13

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Abram Returns to Bethel 1–4

1
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. ​
2
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. ​
3
And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
4
Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. ​

Conflict and Separation from Lot 5–13

5
And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. ​
7
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. ​
8
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. ​
9
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. ​
10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. ​
11
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. ​
13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. ​

God Renews the Covenant Promise 14–18

14
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: ​
15
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. ​
16
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. ​
17
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Genesis 13

Verse 1

went up out of Egypt — He leaves with Sarai, Lot and 'all that he had', as Pharaoh's men had sent them away (Gen 12:20). 'Into the south' is the negeb, where Gen 12:9 had left him 'going on still toward the south'. Lot, 'his brother's son' (Gen 12:5), is still with him.

Verse 2

very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold — 'Rich' is kabed, heavy or weighty. 'Cattle' is miqneh, livestock, a thing bought or acquired. Abram's servant later says the source: 'the LORD hath blessed my master greatly … and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold' (Gen 24:35).

Verse 4

the place of the altar — The place is 'between Bethel and Hai' (v.3), where Abram had 'builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD' (Gen 12:8). He returns to it 'at the first' (rishon) and does the same again.

Verse 6

the land was not able to bear them — The verb is nasa, to lift or carry, and 'substance' is rekush, goods gathered, the word of Gen 12:5. The same terms describe the later parting of Esau and Jacob: 'their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land … could not bear them' (Gen 36:7).

Verse 7

a strife between the herdmen — Riv is a contest or quarrel; the verb of the same root is used of the herdmen of Gerar who 'did strive' with Isaac's herdmen over a well (Gen 26:20). 'The Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land', as Gen 12:6 said of the Canaanite; both peoples are named in Gen 15:20–21.

Verse 8

for we be brethren — Achim, brethren, covers near kin: Lot is Abram's 'brother's son' (Gen 12:5), and Gen 14:14 calls him 'his brother'. Abram speaks first, asking that 'no strife' (meribah) arise between them or between their herdmen.

Verse 9

separate thyself — Parad, to part, the verb of Gen 10:5 and 32. Abram, to whom the LORD had said 'Unto thy seed will I give this land' (Gen 12:7), puts 'the whole land' before Lot and offers left or right. Vv.11 and 14 use the same verb: 'they separated themselves', 'after that Lot was separated'.

Verse 10

as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt — 'Plain' is kikkar, the round tract of the Jordan valley. Its water is compared with the garden of the LORD (Isa 51:3 pairs 'Eden' with it; Gen 2:10) and with Egypt. The clause 'before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah' looks ahead to Gen 19:24–25.

Verse 12

pitched his tent toward Sodom — Abram stays 'in the land of Canaan' while Lot lives 'in the cities of the plain'. The tent moves 'toward' Sodom here; by Gen 14:12 he 'dwelt in Sodom', and in Gen 19:1 he sits 'in the gate of Sodom'. Peter still calls him 'just Lot' and 'that righteous man' (2 Pet 2:7–8).

Verse 13

sinners before the LORD exceedingly — Chatta', sinners, are those counted guilty; the men are 'wicked' (ra') and sinful 'before the LORD', in his sight. The LORD later says, 'their sin is very grievous' (Gen 18:20), and the cities are overthrown with 'brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven' (Gen 19:24).

Verse 14

Lift up now thine eyes — The same two words as Lot's 'lifted up his eyes' in v.10. The LORD speaks 'after that Lot was separated' (parad, as in v.9), and Abram is to look in four directions from where he stands. Gen 12:7 had promised the land to his seed; this is the first word after the parting.

Verse 15

to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever — 'Seed' (zera) is singular in form. Paul reasons from it: 'He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ' (Gal 3:16). 'For ever' (olam) is repeated in Gen 17:8 as 'an everlasting possession'.

Verse 16

as the dust of the earth — Aphar, dust. The same promise recurs to Jacob, 'thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth' (Gen 28:14), and Balaam asks, 'Who can count the dust of Jacob' (Num 23:10). In Gen 15:5 the figure is the stars. 'Number' and 'numbered' are one verb, manah, used twice here.

Verse 18

the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron — 'Plain' is elon, a great tree, an oak. He builds 'an altar unto the LORD', after those of Gen 12:7–8. Hebron is where Sarah dies (Gen 23:2) and is buried 'in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron' (Gen 23:19).