Chapter Thirteen

Abram and Lot Return from Egypt

Genesis 13:1. And Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, The expression is very picturesque and quite fitting for a wandering shepherd with all his herds. and Lot with him, toward the south. In the preceding chapter Lot was not mentioned; but now he is again introduced into the narrative, in view of the separate account of him given below.

Genesis 13:2. And Abram was very rich in livestock, Or, as expressed in the Hebrew text, “very heavy,” which serves as the usual biblical indication of an abundance of external goods (Exod 12:38; 1 Sam 10:2 and others). and in silver, and in gold. This is the first biblical mention of metal valuables. One must suppose that Abram became acquainted with them in Egypt, where they were articles of barter and took the form of plates or rings.

Genesis 13:3–4. And he continued his journeys from the south to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at first, between Bethel and Ai, As is evident from the indications given here, Abram returned from Egypt by the same path along which he had once gone there, and the words of the text, “and he continued his journeys,” beautifully express the very character of the nomadic life that this patriarch led. to the place of the altar which he had made there at first; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Having come to Bethel, where Abram had once established an altar to the true God, he again offers on it a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God for the prosperous outcome of his distant and dangerous journey to Egypt and for his return to the land of promise.

Genesis 13:5. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. So the divine blessings given to Abram poured out also upon his kinsman Lot.

Genesis 13:6. And the land could not support them both living together, for their possessions were so great that they could not live together. “See,” exclaims John Chrysostom on this occasion, “how excess of wealth at once becomes the cause of division, produces a breach, disturbs harmony, and tears asunder the bonds of kinship!”

They Part in Separate Directions

Genesis 13:7. And there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot; Discontent and ill will, as often happens, began from below, among the herdsmen of Abram and Lot; with the large numbers of livestock on both sides and shared pastures and especially watering places, there were certainly many occasions for it.

Genesis 13:8. And Abram said to Lot: Let there be no quarrel between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are kinsmen; “How beautifully the noble and dignified character of Abram is portrayed in these simple words! From these words it is already clear that Lot was ready to take part in the quarrel of the herdsmen; calmly and with dignity Abram reminds him that they are kinsmen, and hints thereby that it is beneath them to take part in the dispute of servants and dangerous in view of the fact that they are surrounded by foreign nations” (Vlastov).

Genesis 13:9. Is not all the land before you? The hills of Bethel, where this event was taking place, occupied an elevated and commanding position above the valley of the Jordan stretching at their feet. On the whole, this entire speech is full of picturesqueness and expressiveness. separate yourself from me: if you go to the left, then I will go to the right; and if you go to the right, then I will go to the left. The speech of Abram breathes magnanimity and gentleness: desiring to show the greatness of his virtue and to fulfill the young man’s wish so that no cause for discontent would arise from their separation, he gives Lot complete freedom and says: “and all the land is before you, separate yourself from me, and whatever land you wish, take it” (John Chrysostom).

Genesis 13:10–11. Lot lifted up his eyes and saw the entire surrounding region of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, and Lot chose the entire surrounding region of the Jordan for himself; and Lot journeyed to the east. And they separated from each other. Making use of the freedom of choice given to him, Lot took for himself the rich and fertile valley of the Jordan, blooming, as the Bible says, like the garden of the Lord, that is, like paradise (Gen 2:10; Isa 51:3), and watered by the waters of the Jordan, like Egypt by the waters of the Nile.

Genesis 13:12. And Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan; and Lot dwelt in the cities of the surrounding region and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Abram, faithful to his calling, continued to remain a wandering nomad and lived apart in the western part of the land of Canaan. Lot, on the other hand, entered into friendly relations with the surrounding population and, being tempted by the comforts of their life, decided to change his former nomadic way of life for the quiet and pleasant life of a city dweller.

Genesis 13:13. Now the inhabitants of Sodom were evil and very sinful before the Lord. Here is a brief but expressive characterization of those inhabitants with whom their new neighbor Lot entered into association. “The fertile Jordan valley and the enervating climate had such an influence on the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah that they exceeded all the cities of their time in shameless depravity. Note also that the Bible adds that they were evil. Deep depravity is usually accompanied by cruelty and even a kind of blood-thirsty madness (Nero, Caligula, Heliogabalus, etc.). And one must suppose that the inhabitants of Sodom had fallen so deeply that no place for good feeling remained in them” (Vlastov).

God Repeats His Promises to Abram

Genesis 13:14. And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: Lift up your eyes and from the place where you are now, look toward the north and toward the south, and toward the east and toward the west; The last addition in the text is especially significant: it shows that Lot, having willfully chosen his lot by worldly reckoning, thereby excluded himself from participation in Abram’s inheritance, with all its trials and temptations, but also with all its rewards and promises.

Genesis 13:15. for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever, As if in reward for the humility, magnanimity, and unselfishness shown by Abram in his division with Lot, the Lord repeats His promises and comforts His faithful servant with the promise that all this land, over which he now wanders, having no inheritance to set his foot upon (Acts 7:5), will in time belong to him, or more precisely, to his descendants. This promise was indeed fulfilled over his physical descendants when the Hebrew people, under the leadership of Joshua, forcibly took possession of the land of Canaan, and over the spiritual Israel, that is, those who believe in Christ, who in Him and through Him became heirs and sharers of all divine promises, for, according to Scripture, Abram even after his death continues to speak through faith (Heb 11:13; cf. Matt 22:31-32).

Genesis 13:16. and I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; “Truly,” exclaims Saint John Chrysostom, “the promise was beyond human nature! The Lord promised not only to make the patriarch a father, though there were so many obstacles to this (his own old age and Sarah’s barrenness), but also to give him offspring so numerous that it will be compared to the number of dust of the earth and will even be innumerable—by this comparison He wished to show the extraordinary greatness of the promise.” This promise was fulfilled both among the Jews, known for their remarkable fruitfulness (Exod 1:12), and even more it came true among Christians, who have spread over the whole face of the earth.

Genesis 13:17. Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth, for I will give it to you [and to your offspring forever]. A specimen of lofty sacred poetry, breathing expressiveness and power. According to the profound remark of Metropolitan Philaret, “the measure of the promise is the measure of faith”—as much as a man can receive, so much he will obtain.

Abram Moves to Hebron and Builds an Altar There

Genesis 13:18. And Abram moved his tent and went and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which is in Hebron; and he built an altar there to the Lord. Mamre was properly the name of an Amorite, an ally of Abram (Gen 14:13). The city of Hebron lies 22 miles south of Jerusalem, on the way to Beersheba. It is supposed that at first it was called Hebron, then was renamed Kiriath-arba (Gen 23:2; Josh 15:54; Judg 1:10), then again was restored to its ancient name (2 Sam 15:7), and finally, among modern Arabs is known by the name “El-Khalil,” that is, the city of the “Friend of God,” as Abram is even called in Holy Scripture (Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23).