Abram and Lot Separate (Genesis 13)

1 So Abram went up [from the Nile valley to hills] from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. [It appears he acquired these in Egypt and foreshadows the exodus of the Israelites who were given silver and gold as they left.] 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. [There were too many people and livestock for the land to support.]

8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” [Abram invites Lot to share the promised land with him. His self-effacing generosity will be rewarded. While we don’t get very many insights into Lot’s character, his actions define him as self-serving rather than other-focused.] 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord [Eden], like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) [This ominous anticipation of chapters 18-19 casts a shadow over Lot’s decision.] 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. [Lot is on the eastern most edge of the promised land and is pictured as turning his back on it, stepping out toward his own land. Perhaps there is an echo of Adam and Cain who also moved east of Eden. This direction suggests divine judgment to follow.] Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners [only used here] against the Lord.

14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. [The promise is made even more explicit. To this day, some Jews use this promise of why Israel belongs to them and to them only. Should Christians believe this promise is still in effect? The answer is “no” because the promised land is fulfilled in Jesus.] 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. [Here in this location the central episodes in chapters 14-19 are set, all the patriarchs are buried, and a place of worship is created.]