02 - Chapter 2

CHAPTER II.

Lot’s Property - His Herdsmen and those of Abraham quarrel - Abraham proposes a Separation - Lot accedes to it, perhaps gladly - Reasons why - Reflections - Abraham gives Lot his Choice of the Country - Lot chooses the rich Valley of the River Jordan - Account of this Region - Chronology.

We now come to a very interesting period in the history of Lot; and not only interesting, but exceedingly instructive.

Hitherto, Abraham and Lot had dwelt on the hilly and mountainous parts of Palestine, between the Mediterranean sea on the west, and the valley of the river Jordan on the east. This was precisely the country that we should think so wise and good a man as Abraham would have selected, when he had the whole of Canaan before him - God having given it to him - and was allowed to live where he pleased in it. Flocks and herds always thrive best in mountainous and hilly countries; and, indeed, so do men. They, as well as other animals, are most healthy and happy there.

It is on this account, that nobody will wonder why Abraham and Lot, on arriving in Canaan, did not go at once, and settle near the Mediterranean sea, on the one hand, or the river Jordan, on the other. They might, it is true have enjoyed more of what are commonly called the privileges of civic life, by going to either place; but then it must be remembered that Abraham was a plain man, "dwelling in tents;" whereas it is probably that the people of both these regions had houses, and had adopted many of what now constitute the arts and manners of polished society. -- Besides, the vale of the Jordan, though it had a rich soil, was very poorly adapted to pasturage. In process of time, however, Abraham and Lot became very rich, and had so many flocks and herds, that no very small tract of country would hold them. They were hence scattered over a large territory; and had so much to do in overseeing others, that it is probable they became less intimate than formerly. And now it was, that, as they became more and more separated from each other, difficulties began to spring up. Perhaps you already know that such is apt to be the case with the rich -- I mean with the holders of vast landed estates. They are, of necessity, farther removed from each other than poor men, and if in no other way, it is because their business keeps them so. But I spoke of "difficulties." The grand difficulty was that their herdsmen -- now become quite numerous -- quarreled.

It does not appear that the quarrels of these herdsmen affected the feelings of Abraham and Lot towards each other, in the least. But there was not telling where the matter might end, if permitted to go on. Neither Abraham nor Lot could know that it might not finally awaken unpleasent feeling of this kind. Such is the very frequent result when members of families quarrel. The truth is, their property had become so immensely large, and required such a multitude of servants and laborers, that is was next to impossible to keep things right. Difficulties springing up, where the servants or dependents are not so numerous, may be amicably settled. But Abraham, who was very well skilled in the knowledge of human nature, proposed, in his own mind, to end the quarrel between his herdsmen and Lot’s, by separating. So he took an early opportunity of conversing with Lot on the subject.

He observed that it would be a great pity that there should be a quarrel between friends and relatives; that the country was large enough for them both, with all their flocks and herds; and that, on the whole, he thought it would be best for them to separate. They were then nearly in the middle of Palestine. Fifty miles to the north, and fifty miles to the south, the country was still excellent for grazing. There was no need of their remaning together; especially as Lot was now at such an age, and had been so long at such a school,* that he ought to be able, if ever, to take care of himself.

[Footnote: "every well ordered family - and such I cannot but think Abraham’s must have been - is a school; and the best sort of school, too. A wise man will remain in such a school as long as he can; and only leave it when obliged to do so, as a matter of duty.] There is no proof that Abraham blamed Lot at all. His great object was to prevent any more evil from ensuing. Nor is there the least evidence that Lot received his suggestions, as if they were made in the spirit of fault finding. On the contrary, it appears as if every thing was conducted on the most friendly terms; and Lot probably heard the proposal with perfect calmness, and I am afraid with gladness.

I say that I am afraid that Lot heard Abraham’s proposal to separate, with gladness; but this requires explanation. My belief is, that Lot did not value, as he ought to have done, the priviledges of Abraham’s society; -- of hearing his advice and instruction, and living under the influence of his example. I believe this for two reasons.

1. There is no evidence that Lot hesitated, or expressed a word of regret. On the contrary, no sooner had Abraham made the proposal, and given him his choice, teling him that he might take just what part of the ocuntry he preferred, than Lot is represented as turning his thoughts at once, to the country that lay in thevalley of the river Jordan; as if he was not only willing, but rather anxious to settle in that rich, but notoriously dissipated region.

2. The other reason for believing that Lot heard Abraham’s proposal with gladness, is, that this would have been the case with young men generally. It is surprising how anxious they are to get out into the world. No matter how excellent their home is; they are apt to feel as though they were unreasonably confined or restrained, and that they would do better and be happier elsewhere.

Young men are exceedlingly ambitious to get to doing business for themselves. As they have had no experience of the vexations that business brings with it, they seem to suppose that all is plain and easy; and that if they could only be their own masters, they should not only do better for themselves, but do more good to others. It is not obstinacy in young men; nor can it properly be said to be rashness. It is the deliberate conviction of their own minds; but then, as I said before, they are without experience.

Now it is necessary that young men should go into business for themselves at some time or other; but they ought to regard it as a duty, rather than as a pleasure. They ought to put it off as long as they can. The longer they put it off, the better for them, generally speaking; if they could only be made to believe so.

I have said that Abraham no sooner gave Lot the choice of living in just what part of the country he pleased, than he turned his eyes towards the valley of the river Jordan. It does not appear that he asked Abraham’s advice, or consulted him in the least. Had he done so, I do not believe the good patriarch would have advised him to go where he did, and for various reasons. But before I give these reasons, I must describe the country. The river Jordan, which runs along the eastern border of Canaan or Palestine, is a very considerable river. It rises to the north-eastward of Palestine, in the mountains of Lebanon or Libanus, and running southward through Lake Meron, and the sea of Tiberias or Galilee, empties into the Dead sea. The Dead sea is sixty or seventy miles long from north to south. Thence from the sound end of the Dead sea, to the eastern branch of the Red sea, is a little more than one hundred miles more. Now where the river Jordan ran quite through from Mount Lebanon to the Red sea, [footnote: ’I am not ignorant that the question whether the Jordan did really ever run through the valley of the Ghor is yet unsettled; but the evidence in favor of its having taken this course, appears to me so conclusive, that, after a long and tedious examination of the best authorities, I venture to speak in the manner above; not, however, without the caution afforded by this note.] its whole length could not have less than three hundred miles. At present it is scarcely two hundred, including the Dead sea, into which it enters; and which, ever since the destruction of Sodom, has stood there as a great basin, into which the Jordan has emptied itself, instead of going on one hundred miles farther, to the Red sea, is now a vast desert; but the valley of the Jordan is more productive, though less so than it was in the time of Lot and Abraham. But even in the days of Lot, it was not very good as a grazing country. At least it was not so good, unless it were a time of famine, as the hill country. Besides, it was already pretty thickly inhabited, especially about the place where the Dead sea now is. Here stood the rich and somewhat populous cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Bela or Zoar. Indeed, all the way from the sea of Galilee to what is now the southern end of the Dead sea, where Zoar then stood, was rich, populous and fertile. The Bible says that Lot "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 into Zoar."

Whether Lot, in going to this section of country, had it in view to change his business, and from a pastoral employment to go into some mercantile pursuit, I cannot certainly tell; or even whether he had any definite notions on the subject. It seems to me that his great and paramount object was to get away from Abraham, thinking that by so doing, he should be more free, and at the same time more prosperous and happy. I think that his success--his abundance of wealth in "flocks, herds and tents,"--had greatly injured his character and made him devoted to money getting. There are very few men who can bear prosperity uninjured, as Abraham did; and I do not think that Lot could. It appears to me that the more he had, the more he wanted; and that this passion for getting more property was the great cause of his going and settling in Sodom, and of his ultimate ruin.

However, to Sodom he went, and he made it his permanent residence. How large a place it was at the time, it is impossible to tell; but there is reason to think it was a city of considerable size, and the capital of the rich and fertile region in which it lay, and which had long been settled by the enterprising but vicious posterity of Ham. This was about the year of the world 2100, or 1900 years before the birth of the Savior, or almost 3750 years ago.