Genesis 13:1-18 NIV

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:2

‘And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold.’ This is said rather triumphantly. The contest with Pharaoh has been to his benefit. We are surely to see that this great wealth is at least partly due to his visit to Egypt. Rather than destroying him it has enriched him, and this can only have been because Yahweh was with him. The mention of silver and gold suggests that Abram engaged in trading as well as having possession of flocks and herds. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:3

‘And he went on his journeys from the Negev, even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at the beginning, and there Abram called on the name of Yahweh.’ Relieved and full of praise in his heart to God for his preservation Abram takes his tribe back to the cult’s altar, and there he leads the tribe in worship. At this stage Bethel (the area not the city) is clearly looked on as their permanent... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:5-6

‘And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. And the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together, for their substance was so great that they could not dwell together.’ The riches gathered in Egypt have altered the situation. There is no longer room for both sub-tribes to stay together. This begins to cause friction between the two sub-tribes. The land is just not sufficient. They must seek wider pastures. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:7

‘And there was strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.’ Part of the problem is caused by the presence of others, for they must share land with Canaanites and Perizzites. Thus what is available causes tension as each group seeks to look after their own master’s interests. This leads Abram to the only possible decision. They must separate. This dissension cannot be allowed to go on, for if it does it... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:8-9

‘And Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife, I beg you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen. For we are close relatives. Is not the whole land in front of you? Separate yourself, I pray, from me. If you will 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”.’ The greatness of Abram is brought out in these words. As senior, and almost certainly leader of the largest sub-tribe, he could have claimed precedence.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:10

‘And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the Circle of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.’ Lot carries out his research carefully (he could not do this by literally just ‘looking up’). He travelled around and weighed up the opportunities. And as he stood in the hills and looked down over the Jordan and its surrounds and saw how well-watered and fruitful the plain was, the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:11

‘So Lot chose for himself all the Circle of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east, and they separated themselves the one from the other.’ So Lot makes his choice. He will dwell among the cities of the plain. He is prepared to leave the place that first welcomed them, to which God had led them, for what he sees as better pastures. He does not realise what his choice is going to mean. How important it is that we make our choices aright and with much prayer and thought about what matters most. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:12-13

‘Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of ‘the Circle’ and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and great sinners against Yahweh.’ There is no doubt that the writer sees the significance of their choices. The one remaining in the place allotted by God, the other unconsciously approaching grave danger because his eyes feast on what seems so wonderful. He forgets the promises of God. He approaches Sodom. What more needs to be said? For Sodom is... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:14-16

‘And Yahweh said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes now and look from the place where you are northward and southward, and eastward and westward. For all the land which you see, to you I will give it and to your seed for ever. And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth then shall your seed also be countable.’ Note the deliberate contrast with verse 10. Lot lifted up his eyes with his main concern being how to... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:17-18

‘Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.’ Wherever Abram walks he can look around and say, ‘one day this will all belong to my children’s children, for Yahweh has given it to me’. And walk around he must for it is the necessity of his manner of living. So every step he takes reminds him of the unmerited goodness of God. Lot walked around thinking of money. Abram walked around thinking of God. That is the test of the true child of God.... read more

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:2

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:3

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:5-6

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:7

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:8-9

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:10

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:11

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:12-13

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:14-16

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:17-18

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