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THE MESSAGE
Genesis 13:1
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Avram went up out of Mitzrayim: he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that was with him. And Lot went with him to the Negev.
So Abram, his wife, and Lot left Egypt, taking everything they owned, and traveled to southern Canaan.
So Abram went up from Egypt into the Negev. He took his wife and all his possessions with him, as well as Lot.
So Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot [his nephew] with him, into the Negev (the South country of Judah).
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.
Then Abram went vp from Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him toward the South.
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.
Abram and Sarai took everything they owned and went to the Southern Desert. Lot went with them.
Avram went up from Egypt — he, his wife and everything he had, and Lot with him — into the Negev.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, towards the south.
So Abram left Egypt. He traveled through the Negev with his wife and everything he owned. Lot was also with them.
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
AND Abram went up from Egypt, e and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Abram went north out of Egypt to the southern part of Canaan with his wife and everything he owned, and Lot went with him.
Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him.
And Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negeb, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot being with him.
So Abra departed out of Egipte, wt his wife, & with all yt he had, & Lot wt him also, towarde ye south.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
And Abram went up out of Egypt with his wife and all he had, and Lot with him, and they came in to the South.
And so Abram gat hym vp out of Egypt, he and his wife, and al that he had, and Lot with hym, toward the South.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
And Abram went vp out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the wilderness.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev-he and his wife and all his possessions-and Lot was with him.
Therfore Abram stiede fro Egipt, he, and his wijf, and alle thingis that he hadde; and Loth stiede with hym, to the south coost.
And Abram goeth up from Egypt (he and his wife, and all that he hath, and Lot with him) towards the south;
And Abram returned from Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Abram went up out of Egypt: he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. [fn]
So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned.
So Abram left Egypt and went to the Negev, with his wife and all that belonged to him. And Lot went with him.
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
So Abram came up out of Egypt he and his wife and all that he had and Lot with him, towards the South.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him into the south.
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
am 2086, bc 1918
the south: The south of Canaan; as in leaving Egypt, it is said he "came from the south," - Genesis 13:3, and the southern part of the promised land lay north-east of Egypt. Genesis 12:9-20, Genesis 20:1, Genesis 21:33, Joshua 10:40, Joshua 18:5, 1 Samuel 27:10, 2 Samuel 24:7
Reciprocal: Genesis 11:27 - Lot Numbers 13:17 - southward Deuteronomy 8:13 - General
Cross-References
Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down between Kadesh and Shur. While he was camping in Gerar, Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She's my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, "You're as good as dead—that woman you took, she's a married woman." Now Abimelech had not yet slept with her, hadn't so much as touched her. He said, "Master, would you kill an innocent man? Didn't he tell me, ‘She's my sister'? And didn't she herself say, ‘He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I did this." God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know your intentions were pure, that's why I kept you from sinning against me; I was the one who kept you from going to bed with her. So now give the man's wife back to him. He's a prophet and will pray for you—pray for your life. If you don't give her back, know that it's certain death both for you and everyone in your family." Abimelech was up first thing in the morning. He called all his house servants together and told them the whole story. They were shocked. Then Abimelech called in Abraham and said, "What have you done to us? What have I ever done to you that you would bring on me and my kingdom this huge offense? What you've done to me ought never to have been done." Abimelech went on to Abraham, "Whatever were you thinking of when you did this thing?" Abraham said, "I just assumed that there was no fear of God in this place and that they'd kill me to get my wife. Besides, the truth is that she is my half sister; she's my father's daughter but not my mother's. When God sent me out as a wanderer from my father's home, I told her, ‘Do me a favor; wherever we go, tell people that I'm your brother.'" Then Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham, and along with her sent sheep and cattle and servants, both male and female. He said, "My land is open to you; live wherever you wish." And to Sarah he said, "I've given your brother a thousand pieces of silver—that clears you of even a shadow of suspicion before the eyes of the world. You're vindicated." Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his maidservants, and they started having babies again. For God had shut down every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and worshiped God there, praying to the Eternal God. Abraham lived in Philistine country for a long time.
Joshua took the whole country: hills, desert, foothills, and mountain slopes, including all kings. He left no survivors. He carried out the holy curse on everything that breathed, just as God , the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua's conquest stretched from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the entire region of Goshen to Gibeon. Joshua took all these kings and their lands in a single campaign because God , the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
Achish would ask, "And whom did you raid today?" David would tell him, "Oh, the Negev of Judah," or "The Negev of Jerahmeel," or "The Negev of the Kenites." He never left a single person alive lest one show up in Gath and report what David had really been doing. This is the way David operated all the time he lived in Philistine country.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Abram went up out of Egypt,.... That country lying low, and so more easy to be watered by the river Nile, as it was, and Canaan being higher; whither he went, but not till the famine in Canaan ceased: he went out of Egypt, as the Jewish p chronologers say, after he had been there three months; but Artapanus q an Heathen writer, says, he stayed there twenty years:
he and his wife, and all that he had; servants and cattle:
and Lot with him: from whence it is clear that he went down with him into Egypt, and it is highly probable had great respect and favour shown him on account of his relation to Abram and Sarai; for it appears by what follows, that he was become very rich: and they all went up
into the south; into the southern part of the land of Canaan, for otherwise they came to the north; for as Egypt lay south with respect to Canaan, Canaan was north from Egypt; but they journeyed to that part of that land which was commonly called the south, either Negeb, as here, or Daroma; :-.
p Seder Olam Rabba, p. 2. q Apud Euseb. Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 18. p. 420.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- Abram and Lot Separate
7. פר×× perıÌzıÌy, Perizzi, âdescendant of Paraz.â ×¤×¨× paÌraÌz, âleader,â or inhabitant of the plain or open country.
10. ××ר kıÌkar, âcircle, border, vale, cake, talent;â related: âbow, bend, go round, dance.â ×ר×× yardeÌn, Jardan, âdescending.â Usually with the article in prose. צער tsoâar, Tsoâar, âsmallness.â
18. ×××¨× mamreÌ', Mamre, âfat, strong, ruler.â ××ר×× chebroÌn, Chebron, âconjunction, confederacy.â
Lot has been hitherto kept in association with Abram by the ties of kinmanship. But it becomes gradually manifest that he has an independent interest, and is no longer disposed to follow the fortunes of the chosen of God. In the natural course of things, this under-feeling comes to the surface. Their serfs come into collision; and as Abram makes no claim of authority over Lot, he offers him the choice of a dwelling-place in the land. This issues in a peaceable separation, in which Abram appears to great advantage. The chosen of the Lord is now in the course of providence isolated from all associations of kindred. He stands alone, in a strange land. He again obeys the summons to survey the land promised to him and his seed in perpetuity.
Genesis 13:1-4
Went up out of Mizraim. - Egypt is a low-lying valley, out of which the traveler ascends into Arabia Petraea and the hill-country of Kenaan. Abram returns, a wiser and a better man. When called to leave his native land, he had immediately obeyed. Such obedience evinced the existence of the new power of godliness in his breast. But he gets beyond the land of promise into a land of carnality, and out of the way of truth into a way of deceit. Such a course betrays the struggle between moral good and evil which has begun within him. This discovery humbles and vexes him. Self-condemnation and repentance are at work within him. We do not know that all these feelings rise into consciousness, but we have no doubt that their result, in a subdued, sobered, chastened spirit, is here, and will soon manifest itself.
And Lot with him. - Lot accompanied him into Egypt, because he comes with him out of it. The south is so called in respect, not to Egypt, but to the land of promise. It acquired this title before the times of the patriarch, among the Hebrew-speaking tribes inhabiting it. The great riches of Abram consist in cattle and the precious metals. The former is the chief form of wealth in the East. Abramâs flocks are mentioned in preparation for the following occurrence. He advances north to the place between Bethel and Ai, and perhaps still further, according to Genesis 13:4, to the place of Shekem, where he built the first altar in the land. He now calls on the name of the Lord. The process of contrition in a new heart, has come to its right issue in confession and supplication. The sense of acceptance with God, which he had before experienced in these places of meeting with God, he has now recovered. The spirit of adoption, therefore, speaks within him.
Genesis 13:5-7
The collision. Lot now also abounded in the wealth of the East. The two opulent sheiks (elders, heads of houses) cannot dwell together anymore. Their serfs come to strife. The carnal temper comes out among their dependents. Such disputes were unavoidable in the circumstances. Neither party had any title to the land. Landed property was not yet clearly defined or secured by law. The land therefore was in common - wherever anybody availed himself of the best spot for grazing that he could find unoccupied. We can easily understand what facilities and temptations this would offer for the strong to overbear the weak. We meet with many incidental notices of such oppression Genesis 21:25; Genesis 26:15-22; Exodus 2:16-19. The folly and impropriety of quarreling among kinsmen about pasture grounds on the present occasion is enhanced by the circumstance that Abram and Lot are mere strangers among the Kenaanites and the Perizzites, the settled occupants of the country.
Custom had no doubt already given the possessor a prior claim. Abram and Lot were there merely on sufferance, because the country was thinly populated, and many fertile spots were still unoccupied. The Perizzite is generally associated with, and invariably distinguished from, the Kenaanite Genesis 15:20; Genesis 34:30; Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17. This tribe is not found among the descendants of Kenaan in the table of nations. They stand side by side with them, and seem therefore not to be a subject, but an independent race. They may have been a Shemite clan, roaming over the land before the arrival of the Hamites. They seem to have been by name and custom rather wanderers or nomads than dwellers in the plain or in the villages. They dwelt in the mountains of Judah and Ephraim Judges 1:4; Joshua 17:15. They are noticed even so late as in the time of Ezra Ezra 9:1. The presence of two powerful tribes, independent of each other, was favorable to the quiet and peaceful residence of Abram and Lot, but not certainly to their living at feud with each other.
Genesis 13:8-9
The strife among the underlings does not alienate their masters. Abram appeals to the obligations of brotherhood. He proposes to obviate any further difference by yielding to Lot the choice of all the land. The heavenly principle of forbearance evidently holds the supremacy in Abramâs breast. He walks in the moral atmosphere of the sermon on the mount Matthew 5:28-42.
Genesis 13:10-13
Lot accepts the offer of his noble-hearted kinsman. He cannot do otherwise, as he is the companion, while his uncle is the principal. He willingly concedes to Abram his present position, and, after a lingering attendance on his kinsman, retires to take the ground of self-dependence. Outward and earthly motives prevail with him in the selection of his new abode. He is charmed by the well-watered lowlands bordering on the Jordan and its affluents. He is here less liable to a periodical famine, and he roams with his serfs and herds in the direction of Sodom. This town and Amorah (Gomorrah), were still flourishing at the time of Lotâs arrival. The country in which they stood was of extraordinary beauty and fertility. The River Jordan, one of the sources of which is at Panium, after flowing through the waters of Merom, or the lake Semechonitis (Huleh), falls into the Sea of Galilee or Kinnereth, which is six hundred and fifty-three feet below the level of the Mediterranean, and thence descends into the basin of the Salt Sea, which is now thirteen hundred and sixteen feet beneath the same level, by a winding course of about two hundred miles, over twenty-seven threatening rapids.
This river may well be called the Descender. We do not know on what part of the border of Jordan Lot looked down from the heights about Shekem or Ai, as the country underwent a great change at a later period. But its appearance was then so attractive as to bear comparison with the garden of the Lord and the land of Egypt. The garden of Eden still dwelt in the recollections of men. The fertility of Egypt had been recently witnessed by the two kinsmen. It was a valley fertilized by the overflowing of the Nile, as this valley was by the Jordan and its tributary streams. âAs thou goest unto Zoar.â The origin of this name is given in Genesis 19:20-22. It lay probably to the south of the Salt Sea, in the wady Kerak. âAnd Lot journeyed eastâ ×ק×× mıÌqedem. From the hill-country of Shekem or Ai the Jordan lay to the east.
Genesis 13:12
The men of Sodom were wicked. - The higher blessing of good society, then, was missing in the choice of Lot. It is probable he was a single man when he parted from Abram, and therefore that he married a woman of Sodom. He has in that case fallen into the snare of matching, or, at all events, mingling with the ungodly. This was the damning sin of the antediluvians Genesis 6:1-7. âSinners before the Lord exceedingly.â Their country was as the garden of the Lord. But the beauty of the landscape and the superabundance of the luxuries it afforded, did not abate the sinful disposition of the inhabitants. Their moral corruption only broke forth into greater vileness of lust, and more daring defiance of heaven. They sinned âexceedingly and before the Lord.â Lot had fallen into the very vortex of vice and blasphemy.
Genesis 13:14-18
The man chosen of God now stands alone. He has evinced an humble and self-renouncing spirit. This presents a suitable occasion for the Lord to draw near and speak to His servant. His works are re-assuring. The Lord was not yet done with showing him the land. He therefore calls upon him to look northward and southward and eastward and westward. He then promises again to give all the land which he saw, as far as his eye could reach, to him and to his seed forever. Abram is here regarded as the head of a chosen seed, and hence, the bestowment of this fair territory on the race is an actual grant of it to the head of the race. The term âforever,â for a perpetual possession, means as long as the order of things to which it belongs lasts. The holder of a promise has his duties to perform, and the neglect of these really cancels the obligation to perpetuate the covenant. This is a plain point of equity between parties to a covenant, and regulates all that depends on the personal acts of the covenanter. Thirdly, He announces that He will make his seed âas the dust of the earth.â This multitude of seed, even when we take the ordinary sense which the form of expression bears in popular use, far transcends the productive powers of the promised land in its utmost extent. Yet to Abram, who was accustomed to the petty tribes that then roved over the pastures of Mesopotamia and Palestine, this disproportion would not be apparent. A people who should fill the land of Canaan, would seem to him innumerable. But we see that the promise begins already to enlarge itself beyond the bounds of the natural seed of Abram. He is again enjoined to walk over his inheritance, and contemplate it in all its length and breadth, with the reiterated assurance that it will be his.
Genesis 13:18
Abram obeys the voice of heaven. He moves his tent from the northern station, where he had parted with Lot, and encamps by the oaks of Mamre, an Amorite sheik. He loves the open country, as he is a stranger, and deals in flocks and herds. The oaks, otherwise rendered by Onkelos and the Vulgate âplains of Mamre,â are said to be in Hebron, a place and town about twenty miles south of Jerusalem, on the way to Beersheba. It is a town of great antiquity, having been built seven years before Zoan (Tanis) in Egypt Numbers 13:22. It was sometimes called Mamre in Abramâs time, from his confederate of that name. It was also named Kiriath Arba, the city of Arba, a great man among the Anakim Joshua 15:13-14. But upon being taken by Kaleb it recovered the name of Hebron. It is now el-Khulil (the friend, that is, of God; a designation of Abram). The variety of name indicates variety of masters; first, a Shemite it may be, then the Amorites, then the Hittites Genesis 23:0, then the Anakim, then Judah, and lastly the Muslims.
A third altar is here built by Abram. His wandering course requires a varying place of worship. It is the Omnipresent One whom he adores. The previous visits of the Lord had completed the restoration of his inward peace, security, and liberty of access to God, which had been disturbed by his descent to Egypt, and the temptation that had overcome him there. He feels himself again at peace with God, and his fortitude is renewed. He grows in spiritual knowledge and practice under the great Teacher.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER XIII
Abram and his family return out of Egypt to Canaan, 1, 2.
He revisits Beth-el, and there invokes the Lord, 3, 4.
In consequence of the great increase in the flocks of Abram
and Lot, their herdmen disagree; which obliges the patriarch
and his nephew to separate, 5-9.
Lot being permitted to make his choice of the land, chooses
the plains of Jordan, 10,11,
and pitches his tent near to Sodom, while Abram abides in
Canaan, 12.
Bad character of the people of Sodom, 13.
The Lord renews his promise to Abram, 14-17.
Abram removes to the plains of Mamre, near Hebron, and builds
an altar to the Lord, 18.
NOTES ON CHAP. XIII
Verse Genesis 13:1. Abram went up out of Egypt - into the south. — Probably the south of Canaan, as In leaving Egypt he is said to come from the south, Genesis 13:3, for the southern part of the promised land lay north-east of Egypt.
