Abraham's generous offer to let Lot choose first directly contradicts ancient Near Eastern primogeniture customs, where the elder patriarch would claim superior territory by right.
Genesis 13
Abram and Lot Separate
1Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.
2Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
3He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
4to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the LORD’s name.
5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.
6The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.
7There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.
8Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.
9Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.
11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another.
12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against the LORD.
14The LORD said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
15for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.
16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.
17Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”
18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
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Theme
After returning from Egypt with great wealth, Abram and his nephew Lot face conflict between their herdsmen due to their extensive possessions outgrowing the available land. Abram graciously offers Lot first choice of territory, leading to their peaceful separation as Lot chooses the fertile Jordan plain near Sodom while Abram remains in Canaan. Following this generous act, God reaffirms and expands His covenant promises to Abram, promising him all the land he can see and descendants as numerous as dust.
Context
This chapter follows Abram's problematic sojourn in Egypt and sets up the future destruction of Sodom where Lot will dwell.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Return from Egypt Abram returns to Canaan wealthy and revisits the altar at Bethel where he calls on the LORD.
- 5-7 Conflict Arises The prosperity of both Abram and Lot creates strife between their herdsmen as the land cannot support both households.
- 8-13 Peaceful Separation Abram generously offers Lot first choice of land, leading to Lot's selection of the Jordan plain and move toward Sodom.
- 14-18 Renewed Divine Promise God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, promising him the land and countless descendants, prompting Abram to build another altar.
Abram and Lot Separate
13:1–13:18 narrative narration peaceful
Abram and Lot separate due to their growing wealth and limited land resources. Abram generously allows Lot to choose his territory first, and God renews His promise to give Abram all the land and countless descendants.
person_contrast
Abraham's generous offer to let Lot choose first directly contradicts ancient Near Eastern primogeniture customs, where the elder patriarch would claim superior territory by right.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Genesis 13:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 22:8 Lexical
and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, wit…
Exodus 9:3 Lexical
behold, the LORD’s hand is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on th…
Exodus 12:38 Lexical
A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.
2 Chronicles 9:1 Lexical
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
1 Kings 10:2 Lexical
She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and…
Genesis 13:3 2 references
Genesis 13:5 1 reference
Genesis 13:6 1 reference
Genesis 13:7 1 reference
Genesis 13:9 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Chronicles 12:2 Lexical
They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from…
2 Samuel 14:19 Lexical
The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no…
Numbers 20:17 Lexical
“Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from th…
Genesis 13:10 4 references
Lexicals 4
Genesis 14:8 Lexical
The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Z…
Genesis 14:2 Lexical
they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and…
Genesis 19:28 Lexical
He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as…
Genesis 19:29 Lexical
When God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, whe…
Genesis 13:12 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 14:12 Lexical
They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Genesis 12:5 Lexical
Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they…
Genesis 11:31 Lexical
Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife. They…
Genesis 13:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 28:14 Lexical
Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the nor…
Zechariah 14:4 Lexical
His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives w…
Numbers 35:5 Lexical
You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits,…
Numbers 34:3 Lexical
then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be fr…
1 Kings 7:39 Lexical
He set the bases, five on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house. He set the sea on the righ…
Genesis 13:18 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 14:13 Lexical
One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother o…
Genesis 18:1 Lexical
The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
Genesis 12:7 Lexical
The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to the LORD, who…
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