New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Genesis 13
1
Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev Desert. He took his wife and everything he had. Lot went with him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 10:40
3
From the Negev Desert, he went from place to place until he came to Bethel. He came to a place between Bethel and Ai. That's where his tent had been earlier.
4
He had also built an altar there. He worshiped the Lord there.
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
Lot was moving around with Abram. Lot also had flocks and herds and tents.
6
But the land didn't have enough food for both of them. They had large herds and many servants. So they weren't able to stay together.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 6:9
7
The people who took care of Abram's herds and those who took care of Lot's herds began to argue. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
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
So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not argue with each other. The people who take care of your herds and those who take care of mine shouldn't argue with one another. After all, we're part of the same family.
Reference
9
"Isn't the whole land in front of you? Let's separate. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right. If you go to the right, I'll go to the left."
Reference
10
Lot looked up. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord. It was like the land of Egypt near Zoar. That was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
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
So Lot chose the whole Jordan River valley for himself. Then he started out toward the east. The two men separated.
Reference
📍 Jordan Valley
12
Abram lived in the land of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities of the Jordan River valley. He set up his tents near Sodom.
Reference
14
The Lord spoke to Abram after Lot had left him. He said, "Look up from where you are. Look north and south. Look east and west.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 28:14
Deuteronomy 3:27
Isaiah 60:4
References Lord
Isaiah 49:18
Genesis 13:10
15
I will give you all of the land that you see. I will give it to you and your children after you forever.
Reference
16
"I will make your children like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your children can be counted.
Reference
17
Go. Walk through the land. See how long and wide it is. I am giving it to you."
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 13:15
18
So Abram moved his tents. He went to live near the large trees of Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar to honor 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.