Verse 1
Genesis 13:1. Into the south —
That is, the southern part of
Canaan, from whence he had come,
Genesis 12:9, which, however,
was north-east of Egypt. The
Scriptures being written
principally for the Jews, its
language, respecting the
situation of places, is
accommodated to their manner of
speaking.
Verse 3
Genesis 13:3. He went on to
Beth-el — Because there he had
formerly had an altar, and
although the altar had fallen
down, as being probably built of
earth, or had been taken down by
Abram, lest it should be
polluted by the idolatrous
Canaanites; yet he came to the
place of the altar, either to
revive the remembrance of the
communion he had had with God at
that place, or perhaps to pay
the vows he had there made to
God, when he undertook his
journey into Egypt. And there
Abram, prevented by no legal
restraints, deterred by no pains
or penalties, or insurrection of
the inhabitants, although
idolaters, “called on the name
of the Lord,” worshipped God by
prayer and thanksgiving, by
offering sacrifices, and
instructing his family, Genesis
18:19.
Verse 6
Genesis 13:6. The land was not
able to bear them — The
Canaanites and other former
inhabitants of the country
undoubtedly occupied the best of
the land, and what remained was
not sufficient to supply their
flocks and herds with pasturage.
Verse 7
Genesis 13:7. The Canaanite and
Perizzite dwelt in the land —
This made the quarrel, 1st, Very
dangerous: if Abram and Lot
cannot agree to feed their
flocks together, it is well if
the common enemy do not come
upon them and plunder them both.
2d, Very scandalous: No doubt
the eyes of all the neighbours
were upon them; because of the
singularity of their religion,
and the extraordinary sanctity
they professed; and notice would
soon be taken of this quarrel,
and improvement made of it to
their reproach by the Canaanites
and Perizzites.
Verse 8-9
Genesis 13:8-9. Although Abram
was the elder, wiser, and every
way worthier person than Lot,
yet he voluntarily, and without
reluctance or hesitation,
relinquishes his own right to
his inferior for the sake of
peace, that no scandal might be
brought on the true religion,
hereby leaving a noble example
for our imitation. Let there be
no strife between me and thee —
So nearly related as kinsmen,
and as worshippers and children
of the one living and true God.
Betwixt us a contention will be
very indecent, and of scandalous
tendency.
Verse 10
Genesis 13:10. Lot beheld all
the plain of Jordan, that it was
well watered — Lot seems to have
had nothing in view but his
temporal convenience and
advantage. His flocks and herds
were already too numerous, and
his substance too great; and yet
he wishes them to be still more
enlarged, and therefore makes
choice of this fertile and
pleasant spot. He does not
inquire into the character of
the inhabitants, nor consider
what sort of society he should
find there; nor does he appear
to express any reluctance at
leaving Abram’s family, and
losing the benefit of his
conversation, counsel, and
instructions. God, however, in
the course of his providence,
disappointed his views and
expectations, and he soon had
cause to repent of his choice.
Verse 13
Genesis 13:13. Sinners before
the Lord exceedingly — That is,
impudent and daring sinners, who
despised and openly defied God.
Alas for Lot! He has got into
bad company, and will find the
beauty and fertility of the
country but a poor recompense
for the daily grief their
wickedness and reproaches will
cause him!
Genesis 13:14-15. The Lord said
unto Abram — To comfort him
after “Lot was separated from
him,” and he was left alone, and
in a less pleasant and fruitful
soil than that which Lot had
chosen; Lift up thine eyes, all
the land which thou seest, to
thee will I give it. — But, how
was this land given to Abram,
when it is expressly said by
Stephen, Acts 7:5, “He (God)
gave him no inheritance in it,
no, not so much as to set his
foot on!” The answer is, God
gave him the right to it, though
not the actual possession, until
the time appointed, when the
inhabitants of the land should
prove themselves to be
irreclaimable, and fully ripe
for destruction. God explains
it, “To thee and thy seed,” that
is, to thee “in thy seed.” But
how could it be said to be given
them “for ever,” when, after a
few hundreds of years they were
turned out of it? To this it
must be replied, that the
promise was made to them, and
intended to be fulfilled, upon
condition of their obedience, as
is often expressed in other
places. And the expression עד
עולם, here rendered for ever,
often signifies only long
continuance, as is evident from
many passages of Scripture, in
which the subjects to which it
is applied do not, in their
nature, admit of an eternal
duration. Indeed, when the word
is applied to the Jewish rites
and ceremonies, as it often is,
it signifies no more than during
the standing of that
dispensation, or till the coming
of the Messiah. And thus it may
be here understood.
Verse 16
Genesis 13:16. I will make thy
seed as the dust of the earth —
That is, they shall increase
incredibly, and, take them all
together, shall be such a
multitude as no man can number.
When Moses wrote this history,
these predictions had been in
some measure fulfilled. But the
increase of Abram’s seed at that
time bore no proportion to what
it was in the days of Solomon,
when Israel and Judah, without
taking his descendants by
Ishmael, Esau, and the children
he had by his second wife
Keturah, into the account at
all, were as many as the sand
which is by the sea in
multitude. Now what human
foresight could have perceived
that this would be the case? And
who that was prudent, and
professed to be a messenger of
God to man, and to be intrusted
with the revelation of his
counsel, would have ventured to
predict such a thing, and
thereby to risk his character as
a true prophet of the Lord on
the accomplishment of the
prediction, if he had not known,
on the most solid grounds, that
God had actually made such a
promise? How thankful we ought
to be for the demonstration this
affords us, that Moses spake by
inspiration of God, and that our
faith in the divine revelation
made by him is built on a firm
foundation!
Verse 17-18
Genesis 13:17-18. Arise, walk
through the land — Enter and
take possession, for thy
posterity; survey the parcels,
and it will appear better than
upon a distant prospect. Abram
himself, however, was not to
think of fixing in it, but
expect to be always unsettled,
and walking through it to a
better Canaan: and in compliance
with God’s will herein, “he
removed his tent,”
conforming to the condition of a
pilgrim. And he built there an
altar — In token of his
thankfulness to God for the kind
visit he had made him. |