American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Genesis 13
1
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 10:40
3
And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
4
To the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 29:12
Psalm 116:2
Psalm 84:10
References Lord
Isaiah 58:9
Zephaniah 3:9
Psalm 107:1
Psalm 145:18
Psalm 107:15
1 Corinthians 1:2
Sacrifice
Psalm 116:17
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.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 6:9
7
And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 26:20
Genesis 12:6
James 3:16
Genesis 34:30
James 4:1
Galatians 5:20
1 Peter 2:12
8
And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we be brothers.
Reference
9
Is not the whole land before you? separate yourself, I pray you, from me: if you will take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Reference
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 you come to Zoar.
Reference
📍 Locations
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 34:3
Genesis 14:8
Genesis 14:2
Joel 2:3
Ezekiel 28:13
1 Kings 7:46
References Lord
Isaiah 51:3
11
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Reference
📍 Jordan Valley
12
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Reference
14
And the LORD said to Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 28:14
Deuteronomy 3:27
Isaiah 60:4
References Lord
Isaiah 49:18
Genesis 13:10
16
And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered.
Reference
17
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 13:15
18
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelled in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar to the LORD.
Reference
📍 Hebron
Parallel theme
Genesis 14:13
Genesis 35:27
1 Timothy 2:8
Genesis 37:14
Numbers 13:22
References Lord
Genesis 18:1
Psalm 16:8
Sacrifice
Genesis 8:20
Genesis 13:4
Summary of Genesis 13
Genesis chapter thirteen narrates the events following the harsh incident in Egypt. Abram leaves Egypt and returns to the Negev. The Bible tells the readers that Abram returned from Egypt with great wealth including animals, silver, and gold. His nephew Lot had also acquired great possessions with many flocks and herds of animals which he owned with his family of his own. Abram returned to the place he had previously set up an altar, specifically to the Lord, in the region of Bethel and Ai. However, the land could not bear both families living together because they had become too great. Quarrels broke out between the servants of Abram and those of Lot. The Bible reveals that the Canaanites and Perizzites already dwelt in the land. Thus, the space was limited, and conflicts arose between the servants of the two families.
Abram decides to call upon the help of his nephew Lot by asking him to separate from him and go live on his own. He advises that it would be for the best because quarrels will erupt between the people and the servants, as well as between their herds of animals. Abram advises that the separation would be for their own good because they are blood relatives, saying, “Let us separate, I pray thee, from thee, and from thine servants, and from thy brother’s servants; for the possession is too narrow for us; that we may dwell asunder.” However, his words were more of a suggestion because he offered to let Lot choose which part would be convenient and preferable for him. He said, “Look, the land before thee lieth unto Zoar, a plain all the way unto Bethel, unto Ai, unto the border of Amorites; take it now it shall be thine inheritance, and I will go hence unto the right hand, and thou shalt go hence unto the left hand.” The choice was for Lot because Abram was not willing to choose the best portion of the land for himself; he was ready to leave his nephew with the choice.
Lot sees the plain of Jordan and finds it fertile; it has plenty of water and is well watered. As a result, he chooses to pitch his tents near the fertile land of Sodom. However, the Lord warns Abram that the people of Sodom are wicked sinners. The decision Lot had made would bring serious problems in his life because those wicked people would cause him nothing but trouble. In addition, their sin had brought them under the curse of Lord. After Lot leaves with his family and possessions, God talks to Abram and promises that he will give him great possessions in addition to his nephew’s share. God asks Abram to look around and tells him he will see all the land that will be his. God says to him:
And look that thou seest all the land, for I will give it unto thee and unto thy seed for ever. And he said unto him, Lord that I am, I pray thee, the land of the people of Caphtor and the land of the Jebusites, and the land of the Amorites, and the land of the Canaanites, and the land of the Perizzites. And Abram said unto God, Lord, that I am, I pray thee, how long will these things continue? I will go unto the right and thou shalt go unto the left.
This promise was an enormous one, which even made Abram hesitate before he asked God to fulfill it. God replies, “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man should number them, even the dust of the earth might be numbered before Him.” God asks Abram to go around the land to see all that God will give him and his descendants because the promise was gigantic. Abram pitched his tents near Mamre and Hebron and planted another altar to the Lord. It was the third altar he had planted since coming to Canaan.
The chapter tells the readers of the vast differences between the two cousins, Lot and Abram, in choosing their places of dwelling. While Lot looks only at the superficial aspects of life and chooses what looks good, Abram exercises faith and leaves the choice to God. However, it was Abram who was willing to leave Egypt after gaining so much wealth. Lot had chosen the fertile land of Sodom, but his life was doomed to be filled with troubles because of the wickedness around him.
Another interesting feature of this chapter is how wisely Abram handles the difficult situation brought about by the quarrels between the servants of his family and those of his nephew Lot. He sees the need to do what is necessary to prevent the conflict from continuing. However, rather than allow it to degenerate into a family feud involving all members of both families, he takes a responsible step and suggests that they separate. In addition, he goes even further and offers to let Lot choose which part would be preferable for him and his family. This shows us that Abram had the spirit of compromise and was willing to do what would bring about peace, even when it did not profit him.
Abram decides to call upon the help of his nephew Lot by asking him to separate from him and go live on his own. He advises that it would be for the best because quarrels will erupt between the people and the servants, as well as between their herds of animals. Abram advises that the separation would be for their own good because they are blood relatives, saying, “Let us separate, I pray thee, from thee, and from thine servants, and from thy brother’s servants; for the possession is too narrow for us; that we may dwell asunder.” However, his words were more of a suggestion because he offered to let Lot choose which part would be convenient and preferable for him. He said, “Look, the land before thee lieth unto Zoar, a plain all the way unto Bethel, unto Ai, unto the border of Amorites; take it now it shall be thine inheritance, and I will go hence unto the right hand, and thou shalt go hence unto the left hand.” The choice was for Lot because Abram was not willing to choose the best portion of the land for himself; he was ready to leave his nephew with the choice.
Lot sees the plain of Jordan and finds it fertile; it has plenty of water and is well watered. As a result, he chooses to pitch his tents near the fertile land of Sodom. However, the Lord warns Abram that the people of Sodom are wicked sinners. The decision Lot had made would bring serious problems in his life because those wicked people would cause him nothing but trouble. In addition, their sin had brought them under the curse of Lord. After Lot leaves with his family and possessions, God talks to Abram and promises that he will give him great possessions in addition to his nephew’s share. God asks Abram to look around and tells him he will see all the land that will be his. God says to him:
And look that thou seest all the land, for I will give it unto thee and unto thy seed for ever. And he said unto him, Lord that I am, I pray thee, the land of the people of Caphtor and the land of the Jebusites, and the land of the Amorites, and the land of the Canaanites, and the land of the Perizzites. And Abram said unto God, Lord, that I am, I pray thee, how long will these things continue? I will go unto the right and thou shalt go unto the left.
This promise was an enormous one, which even made Abram hesitate before he asked God to fulfill it. God replies, “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man should number them, even the dust of the earth might be numbered before Him.” God asks Abram to go around the land to see all that God will give him and his descendants because the promise was gigantic. Abram pitched his tents near Mamre and Hebron and planted another altar to the Lord. It was the third altar he had planted since coming to Canaan.
The chapter tells the readers of the vast differences between the two cousins, Lot and Abram, in choosing their places of dwelling. While Lot looks only at the superficial aspects of life and chooses what looks good, Abram exercises faith and leaves the choice to God. However, it was Abram who was willing to leave Egypt after gaining so much wealth. Lot had chosen the fertile land of Sodom, but his life was doomed to be filled with troubles because of the wickedness around him.
Another interesting feature of this chapter is how wisely Abram handles the difficult situation brought about by the quarrels between the servants of his family and those of his nephew Lot. He sees the need to do what is necessary to prevent the conflict from continuing. However, rather than allow it to degenerate into a family feud involving all members of both families, he takes a responsible step and suggests that they separate. In addition, he goes even further and offers to let Lot choose which part would be preferable for him and his family. This shows us that Abram had the spirit of compromise and was willing to do what would bring about peace, even when it did not profit him.