Genesis — Chapter 13

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1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3And 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;

4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9Is 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.

10And 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.

11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

14And 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:

15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16And 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.

17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18Then 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.

1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.

2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai,

4unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of Jehovah.

5And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6And 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.

7And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram`s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot`s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.

8And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren.

9Is 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 take] the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt, as thou goest unto Zoar.

11So Lot chose him all the Plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

13Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners against Jehovah exceedingly.

14And Jehovah 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:

15for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered.

17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it.

18And Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built there an altar unto Jehovah.

1So Abram went up from Egypt into the Negev. He took his wife and all his possessions with him, as well as Lot.

2(Now Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.)

3And he journeyed from place to place from the Negev as far as Bethel. He returned to the place where he had pitched his tent at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai.

4This was the place where he had first built the altar, and there Abram worshiped the Lord.

5Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents.

6But the land could not support them while they were living side by side. Because their possessions were so great, they were not able to live alongside one another.

7So there were quarrels between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen. (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.)

8Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives.

9Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself now from me. If you go to the left, then I’ll go to the right, but if you go to the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

10Lot looked up and saw the whole region of the Jordan. He noticed that all of it was well watered (this was before the Lord obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, all the way to Zoar.

11Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan and traveled toward the east. So the relatives separated from each other.

12Abram settled in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled among the cities of the Jordan plain and pitched his tents next to Sodom.

13(Now the people of Sodom were extremely wicked rebels against the Lord.)

14After Lot had departed, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west.

15I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever.

16And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted.

17Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.”

18So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, and he built an altar to the Lord there.

1Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.

2Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

3He went on his journeys from the South even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,

4to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name.

5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.

6The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their substance was great, so that they could not live together.

7There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.

8Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.

9Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.

11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.

14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,

15for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever.

16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.

17Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”

18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Abram and Lot separate due to their growing wealth; Lot chooses Sodom's fertile plain while God reaffirms His promise to Abram.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 13 records Abram's return from Egypt, his separation from Lot, and God's reaffirmation of the land promise. After the failure of chapter 12 (Egypt), Abram returns to the altar at Bethel — back to the place of worship and faith. The separation from Lot demonstrates Abram's generous, faith-filled character: he gives Lot first choice, trusting God to provide. Lot chooses by sight; Abram walks by faith.
Return to Bethel (vv.1-4): Abram returns from Egypt — wealthy (v.2) — to Bethel, "unto the place of the altar" (v.4). He "called on the name of the LORD" (v.4). After failure, he returns to worship. Restoration.
The Separation (vv.5-13): Both Abram and Lot are too wealthy to share the land (vv.5-6). Strife between their herdsmen (v.7). Abram offers Lot first choice: "Is not the whole land before thee?" (v.9). Lot "lifted up his eyes" and chose the well-watered Jordan plain — "even as the garden of the LORD" (v.10). He "pitched his tent toward Sodom" (v.12). Ominous note: "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly" (v.13).
God's Promise Reaffirmed (vv.14-18): After Lot leaves, God tells Abram: "Lift up now thine eyes" (v.14) — contrast with Lot lifting his eyes (v.10). Lot looked and chose for himself; God tells Abram to look and receive from Him. "All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever" (v.15). "Thy seed as the dust of the earth" (v.16). "Arise, walk through the land" (v.17). Abram settles at Mamre/Hebron and builds another altar (v.18).

Map & Geography

  • Bethel (v.4) — Abram returns to where he built an altar, re-establishing worship after the Egypt detour. Located in the central hill country.
  • The Jordan plain (v.10) — described as "well watered every where... even as the garden of the LORD" — an Eden-like paradise. Lot chooses it for its appearance, not its righteousness.
  • Sodom and Gomorrah (v.10) — located in the Jordan plain, likely near the southern end of the Dead Sea. Choosing beauty over godliness.
  • Hebron/Mamre (v.18) — Abram settles here after Lot departs. Located in the southern hill country, about 19 miles south of Jerusalem.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers the return to Bethel, the generous separation, Lot's dangerous choice, and God's expanded promise.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Lot's Choice" on vv.10-12 (MTP Vol. 11, No. 636) "Lot lifted up HIS eyes — he looked for himself. He beheld the well-watered plain — he chose by appearance. He pitched his tent TOWARD Sodom — he moved in the wrong direction. This is the anatomy of backsliding: self-directed vision, appearance-based decisions, gradual movement toward evil. First toward Sodom, then in Sodom (14:12), then at Sodom's gate (19:1). It starts with a glance and ends with captivity." Sermon: "Abram's Generosity" on vv.8-9 (MTP Vol. 20, No. 1198) "Let there be no strife — Abram could have pulled rank. He was the elder, the one with the promise, the one God called. He had every right to choose first. But he gave that right away. Why? Because he trusted God. When you trust God to provide, you don't need to grab. When you know God has your future, you can afford to be generous with your present."

Reflection

  • 1. "Unto the place of the altar" (v.4). After failure (Egypt), Abram returned to worship. When you fail, do you return to God? Or do you stay away in shame? Go back to the altar.
  • 2. "Let there be no strife" (v.8). Abram chose peace over rights. Are you willing to give up your rights for the sake of peace? Can you trust God enough to let others choose first?
  • 3. "Lot lifted up his eyes" (v.10). Lot chose by appearance — and it led to disaster. Where are you making decisions based on what LOOKS good rather than what IS good? Are you consulting God or just your eyes?
  • 4. "Pitched his tent toward Sodom" (v.12). What direction is your "tent" facing? What are you moving toward — gradually, imperceptibly? Direction determines destination.
  • 5. God's promise to Abram (vv.14-17) came AFTER he gave generously to Lot. You cannot out-give God. When you release with open hands, God fills them with more than you released. Are you holding tightly or giving freely?