Genesis 13:10

_AND THERE WAS A STRIFE BETWEEN THE HERDMEN OF ABRAM'S CATTLE AND THE HERDMEN OF LOT'S CATTLE: AND THE CANAANITE AND THE PERIZZITE DWELLED THEN IN THE LAND._ And there was a strife. Strife from similar causes frequently breaks out among the Arabs in Mesopotamia, as well as in Syria; and this is a reason which is often heard for changing the situation of their encampments-namely, that the herdsmen have had a quarrel. Abram's character appears here in a most amiable light. Having a strong sense of religion, he was afraid of doing anything that might tend to injure its character or bring discredit on its name, and he rightly judged that such unhappy effects would be produced if two persons whom nature and grace had so closely connected should come to a rupture. THE CANAANITE AND THE PERIZZITE DWELT THEN IN THE LAND. The Canaanite dwelt chiefly in the Phoenician towns in the west; but were...

10._And Lot lifted up his eyes_. As the equity of Abram was worthy of no little praise; so the inconsideration of Lot, which Moses here describes, is deserving of censure. He ought rather to have contended with his uncle for the palm of modesty; and this the very order of nature suggested; but just as if he had been, in every respect, the superior, he usurps for himself the better portion; and makes choice of that region which seemed the more fertile and agreeable. And indeed it necessarily follows, that whosoever is too eagerly intent upon his own advantage, is wanting in humanity towards others. There can be no doubt that this injustice would pierce the mind of Abram; but he silently bore it, lest by any means, he should give occasion of new offense. And thus ought we entirely to act, whenever we perceive those with whom we are connected, to be not sufficiently mindful of their duty: o...

10-13 Abram having offered Lot the choice, he at once accepted it. Passion and selfishness make men rude. Lot looked to the goodness of the land; therefore he doubted not that in such a fruitful soil he should certainly thrive. But what came of it? Those who, in choosing relations, callings, dwellings, or settlements, are guided and governed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, cannot expect God's presence or blessing. They are commonly disappointed even in that which they principally aim at. In all our choices this principle should rule, That is best for us, which is best for our souls. Lot little considered the badness of the inhabitants. The men of Sodom were impudent, daring sinners. This was the iniquity of Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, Ezekiel 16:49. God often gives great plenty to great sinners. It has often been the ve...

Verse Genesis 13:10. _LIKE THE LAND OF EGYPT, AS THOU COMEST UNTO ZOAR._] There is an obscurity in this verse which _Houbigant_ has removed by the following translation: _Ea autem, priusquam Sodomam_ _Gornorrhamque Do minus delerit, erat, qua itur Segor, tota_ _irrigua, quasi hortus Domini, et quasi terra AEgypti_. "But before the Lord had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was, as thou goest to Zoar, well watered, like the garden of the Lord, and like the land of Egypt." As paradise was watered by the four neighbouring streams, and as Egypt was watered by the annual overflowing of the Nile; so were the plains of the Jordan, and all the land on the way to Zoar, well watered and fertilized by the overflowing of the Jordan....

- Abram and Lot Separate 7. פרזי _perı̂zı̂y_, Perizzi, “descendant of Paraz.” פרז _pārāz_, “leader,” or inhabitant of the plain or open country. 10. ככר _kı̂kar_, “circle, border, vale, cake, talent;” related: “bow, bend, go round, dance.” ירדן _yardēn_, Jardan, “descending.” Usually with the article in prose. צער _tso‛ar_, Tso‘ar, “smallness.” 18. ממרא _mamrē'_, Mamre, “fat, strong, ruler.” חברון _chebrôn_, Chebron, “conjunction, confederacy.” Lot has been hitherto kept in association with Abram by the ties of kinma

EXPOSITION GENESIS 13:10 AND LOT LIFTED UP HIS EYES. _Circumspexit_;_ _with a look of eager, lustful greed (cf. Genesis 3:6). The same expression is afterwards used of Abram (Genesis 13:14), where perhaps also the element of satisfaction, though in a good sense, is designed to be included. AND BEHELD ALL THE PLAIN. Literally, _all the circle, _or surrounding region (כִּכָּר, from כָּרַר, to move in a circle; cf. _arrondissement, _Fr.; _kreis _or _bezirk, _Ger.); περίχωρος_ _(LXX; Matthew 3:5); now called El

AND LOT LIFTED UP HIS EYES,.... He immediately fell in with Abram's proposal, but had not the ingenuity to return back the choice to Abram which he gave him, but took the advantage of it; nor did he show any uneasiness or unwillingness to part from Abram, though so near a relation, and so wise and good a man, and by whose means greatly he had obtained his riches; but without giving himself any concern about this, he at once cast about in his mind where to make his choice; he considered within himself which was the best part of the country, and most convenient for his flocks and herds, and where he was most likely to increase his substance; for this phrase chiefly has respect to the eyes of the understanding, he made use of, consulted with himself with his rational powers what was fittest to be done; unless we can suppose him situated on some considerable eminence, from whence he could ha...

CHAPTER 13 THE RETURN FROM EGYPT AND SEPARATION FROM LOT _ 1. Back to Bethel (Genesis 13:1)_ 2. The strife (Genesis 13:5) 3. The separation. Lot in Sodom (Genesis 13:8) 4. The third communication of Jehovah (Genesis 13:14) Abram is graciously brought back. Abram could not have remained in Egypt forever. So the believer who has wandered away from the Lord will be restored. How precious the altar at Bethel must have been to him. Dispensationally Abram's going down to Egypt foreshadows the going down of his posterity. Lot's character is brought out in his selfish choice. He had not so much fol

GENESIS 13. THE SEPARATION OF ABRAHAM AND LOT. In the main from J, as is shown by the frequent mention of Yahweh, the reference to the garden of Yahweh, the preparation for the story of Sodom's overthrow in the mention of its exceeding sinfulness, and the phraseology. But Genesis 13:11 _b_ - Genesis 13:12_ a_ (and they. the Plain) belongs to P, which characteristically avoids all explanation of the separation as due to strife; it was occasioned rather by their abounding wealth. Wellhausen regards Genesis 13:14 as an insertion on the ground that J does not represent Yahweh as speaking to Abraham except in a theophany (but cf....

III.. SELFISH CHOICE. 10. AND LOT LIFTED UP HIS EYES. Instead of reciprocating the magnanimity of one to whom he was so much indebted, Lot determined to accept the offer and to make the most out of it possible. Therefore he "lifted up his eyes" to survey the country. From the mountain heights of Bethel, it was only necessary to "lift up his eyes," in order to see the whole country. "From the spot where they were negotiating, the mountain summit east of Bethel, under its grove of oaks where the tent was pitched, Lot looked down upon the green valley of the Jordan--its tropical luxuriance visible even from thence--beautiful and well-watered as that garden of Eden, of which the fame still lingered in their Chaldean hills, or as the valley of the Nile, where they had so lately sojourned. He chose the rich soil, and with it the corrupt civilization, which had grown up in the rank climate of...