Genesis 13

Abram returns with Sarai , Lot and great riches out of Egypt into Canaan and sits down by Babel verse 2 Abram and Lot by reason of both their store of wealth and cattle and their men’s debate and difference part asunder 5 Lot chuffing the godly tract of Sodom 10 God appears to Abram and repeats his promises 14 Abram travels on Gods commands to view the land of Canaan and pitcheth his tent by Hebron and built an altar to the Lord 17.

1. Thus Abram came up out of Egypt towards the south [that is the south quarters of Canaan] he and his wife and all he had and Lot with him.

2. And Abram was very rich [Heb. Very heavy thus already felt the truth of divine promise he intended but to keep himself from starving in Egypt and return thus loaded with riches] in cattle in silver in gold.

3. And he went following his journeys [following the ways and places through which he formerly descended into Egypt see chapter 12.9 or he journeyed according as a transportation and carriage of his goods and much of his cattle would permit] from the south unto Babel [see chapter 12 on verse 6, 8] unto this place where this tent had been in the beginning between Bethel and between Ai [see chapter 12 verse 6, 8]

4. To the place of the altar which at first he had made there and Abram called there upon the name of the Lord [compare chapter 4. Verse 26 and 12.8.]

5. And Lot who went with Abram had likewise sheep tents and oxen.

6. And that land did not bear them [that is not able to sustain them] to dwell together for their substance was much.

7. And there was a contention between the herdsmen of Abrams cattle and between the herdsmen of Lots cattle [see chapter 21 and 26 where you like find the contention recorded] also the Canaanites and the Pherizites dwelt then in that country [because the old inhabitants left little room in part of the land for these strangers therefore Abram and Lot having great store of cattle and being doubtless not a little envied by the inhabitants they could not well find sufficient accommodation in one place for such a quantity whence not only contention arose between the herdsmen but further trouble likewise was to be feared might ensure from these Canaanites see below chapter 21.25 & 26.15,20,21.]

8. And Abram said to Lot let there be no stifle now between me and between thee and between my herdsmen and between thy herdsmen for we are men brethren [Heb. We are brethren not only after the flesh I being thy uncle and thou my nephew but also after the spirit we save one and the same God and giving scandal to the inhabitants by such contentions drawing reproach thereby upon the true worship of God and our possession.]

9. Is not [such kind of asking implies strong affirmation so chapter 20.5 Exodus 14:12 Judges 4:6] the whole land before thy face? [that I it lies open for thee to be made use of or implode by thee seethe like phrase chapter 20.15 and chapter 34.10,21 and 47.6] part from me I pray if thou choose [this word is put here out of the 11 verse following] the left hand I will go to the right and if thou go to the right I will go to the left.

10. And Lot lifted up his eyes; and behold all the plain of Jordan [this is the name of the river moistening the land of Canaan and springing from two heads in mount Lebanon called Jor and Dan] that the same wholly moistened it; before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorra it was as the garden of the Lord, [hereby is understood the garden of Eden which God had planted; or, the garden of the LORD, that is to say an extraordinary fair & pleasant garden; as, the Camp of God, 1 Chronicles 12:22, the hills of God, Psalms 36:7, the cedars of God, Psalms 80:11, the wrestling of God Genesis 30:8, that is every and mighty ones. The word God here signifies here a great excellence] as Egypt [see Ezekiel 31 where the fruitfulness of Egypt and Assyria are compared together] coming to Zoar [Heb. Tsohar a city that lay about Sodom and Gomorra which got that name when Lot had retreated thither. See chapter 19.23 being formerly called Bela see chapter 14.2.]

11. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan and Lot went to the east and they were parted the one from the other [Heb. The man from his brother.]

12. Abram then dwelt in the land of Canaan and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched tents even unto Sodom.

13. And the men of Sodom were evil and great sinners against the Lord [Heb. Sinners against the Lord much notwithstanding the great wickedness of Sodomites and neighboring people Lot chose this tract for the goodness of it others before the Lord compare chapter 6.11 and 10.9.]

14. And the Lord said to Abram after that Lot was parted from him [God here doth comfort Abram upon his nephew parting from him and choosing fro himself that goodly tract] lift up the eyes and regard the place where thou art north-ward and south-ward and east-ward and west-ward [Heb. To the sea as chapter 12.8.]

15. For all this land that you see [not that he then saw all but all that was promised him] that will I give to thee [viz. to thyself, the right to the earthly Canaan and to thy seed after the flesh in due time, the real possession; and afterwards to thee and thy spiritual seed together, here the right to the heavenly Canaan, and hereafter the everlasting fruition of the same, all of my own free gift and grace] and to your seed [not only as earthly habitation for thy fleshly seed but likewise as a pledge and token of heavenly country and mansion place for thy spiritual seed. Compare Hebrews 11:9,10,14,15,16] in eternity [that is for a long time viz. until the Messiah, the Seed of the blessing, shall be born of flesh and have accomplished the work of salvation upon the earth. The Hebrew word among the signification is often taken for the whole time of the law. See chapter 17.13 and 48.4, Psalms 132:14, or properly in eternity, in regard namely of the spiritual seed and Canaan.]

16. And I shall put thy seed as the dust of the earth [Abrams seed is likened to the dust of the earth in regard not of just the like quantity or number but so great and vast a multitude of them as is held numberless or part account among men see the like phrase chapter 15 verse 5 and 22.17 and 32.12] so that if any shall be able to tell the dust of the earth thy seed also shall be told.

17. Get thee up walk through this land in its length and its breadth I will give it to thee.

18. And Abram pitched tents [that is in his journeys and removing he pitched his tents here and there]and came and dwelt at the oak-bushes [or grove others in the flat fields or plain] of Mamre[this Mamre was an Amorite dwelling by Hebron see chapter 14.verse 13 and 24 and this name is to be distinguished from that of more above chapter 12 verse 6] which are by Hebron [or who is at Hebron which city at that time was called Kiriath Arbe or the city of Arba but afterwards Hebron see chapter 23.2 and 35.27 Numbers 13:23 Joshua 14:15 2 Samuel 5:5] and he built an altar there to the Lord.