Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s Bible study on Genesis 13 – Abram and Lot part ways. According to Bible scholars, the events of Genesis 13 took place in 2085 B.C. approximately.
I encourage you to turn to Genesis 13 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Genesis 13 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know. All the scriptures that you find highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Genesis 12, we read about the Abram’s promise and the famine of Canaan. Well, in this Bible study on Genesis 13, we will read about Abram and Lot parting ways.
Without any further delay, let us study together Genesis Chapter 13, shall we?
Abram Journeyed From Egypt Towards Bethel
1 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
In Verses 1-4 of Genesis 13, we read that Abram left Egypt with his wife, Lot and all his possessions to the south. The south here refers to the south of the country of Judah, the Negeb (According to the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC). This was in 2085 BC approximately. In Genesis 12, we saw how Pharaoh sent Abram away with his wife and all his possessions. And, Abram was rich in Egypt because the Pharaoh treated him well for Sarai’s sake. Hence, Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Abram travelled from the South of the country of Judah, the Negeb, as far as Bethel where he had built his tent in the beginning between Bethel and Ai. In Chapter 12, we read that Abram made an altar to the Lord between Bethel and Ai and called on the name of the Lord. Well, he returned to the same place where he had built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord again from that same place.
Strife Between Abram’s And Lot’s Herdsmen
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell 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. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
In Verses 5-6 of Genesis 13, we see that Lot, who travelled with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. The land was not able to support them for they outnumbered the area of the land where they dwelt. Abram with his possessions and Lot with his possessions couldn’t dwell together because their possessions was so great. The land was not big enough to support or nourish them. Verse 7 tells us that there was a strife between the herdsmen of both Abram’s lifestock and Lot’s livestock. At the time that all these events took place, the Canaanites and Perizzites dwelt in the land where Abram and Lot were. Because of this, fodder was more difficult to obtain for the cattles of both Abram and Lot.
Abram And Lot Part Ways
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
In Verses 8-9 of Genesis 13, Abram pleaded with Lot to not have any strife between himself and Lot and their herdsmen, because they were a family. Afterall, Lot was Abram’s nephew (Refer Genesis 11, Genealogy of Terah). Abram, then said to Lot to choose a land for himself and separate from him. He said that if Lot went to the left of the land from where they were dwelling currently, he would go to the right and if Lot went to the right, Abram said that he would go to the left. Abram was not selfish in his dealing with Lot. He was righteous. He didn’t try to choose the best land for himself. Instead, he allowed Lot to choose whichever land he liked the most without any question. Abram was willing to go the opposite way with his possessions.
Lot Dwelt In The Plains Of Jordan And Abram Dwelt In Canaan
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of 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 toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.
In Verses 10-12 of Genesis 13, we read that Lot lifted his eyes and saw the well-watered plains of Jordan. The plains of Jordan are likened to the garden of the Lord, and the land of Egypt as one goes towards Zoar. They were lush and prosperous before ‘The Lord’ destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Hence, Lot chose for himself a seemingly prosperous land – all the plains of Jordan and he journeyed towards the east. Thus, Lot and Abram separated from each other.
Abram dwelt in Canaan and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain of Jordan and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. Verse 13 tells us that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. Lot didn’t know about the wicked and sinful nature of the people of Sodom when he picked the plain of Jordan for himself. He just wanted the best land for himself and his possessions and livestock.
The Lord Gave Canaan To Abram As An Inheritance
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
In Verses 14-16 of Genesis 13, the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, to lift his eyes from the place where he was in all directions (northward, southward, eastward and westward). The Lord said that He would give to Abram and his descendants all the land that Abram saw in all directions forever. The Lord further said that He would make Abram’s descendants as the dust of the earth. If a man could number the dust of the earth then Abram’s descdendants could also be numbered. In short, the Lord promised Abram innumberable and uncountable descendants. In Verse 17, the Lord commanded Abram to arise and walk in the land through its length and width (claiming the land, taking territory) for He gave it to him.
Verse 18 of Genesis 13, tells us that after the Lord had spoken to Abram, he moved his tent and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre in Hebron. And, there he built an altar to the Lord.
Notes on Mamre And Hebron
The great tree of Mamre is considered a Holy site even today. It is situated at the hilltop on the edge of Hebron. Although scripture calls it as terebinth trees sometimes the word is translated as an oak tree too. The ancient single oak tree of Mamre or Abram’s oak is also called as Eshel Avraham. Many visit the site to venerate it. Another site is also considered to be actual site of the oak of Abraham and it is called Elonei Mamre. This site includes Herodian walls built by King Herod much later.
Hebron is one of the holiest and most ancient cities of Judaism. Today, it is a Palestinian city in the southern West Bank, situated 30 kilometres south of Jerusalem.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the bible study lesson on Genesis 13. The main focus of this chapter is Abram returning to Canaan, him and Lot parting ways and The Lord’s promises to Abram. Abram continually built altars to the Lord throughout his journey and went where the Lord led him. He is a prime example of how a man is to put his faith in God. I hope you learnt something from this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. If you have any comments or questions for me, kindly leave them in the comments box below. I highly appreciate it. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until Next Time!