Tyndale Open Study NotesGenesis 13

This story takes place during a time of conflict and God's blessings. At the beginning, Abram returns to a place where he had built an altar. The story emphasizes earlier events as Abram returns to the land (13:3–4). Abram renews his worship and again calls on the Lord's name (see 12:8).

Abram already had powerful resources (12:5). His time in Egypt increased his wealth and power (12:16).

• Lot was also wealthy, owning many animals. Tents play an important role in Lot's story (13:12).

• The Canaanites and the Perizzites (see 34:30; Deuteronomy 7:1; Judges 1:4; 3:5) controlled the fertile land. The argument between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen made Abram easier to attack.

God promised the land to Abram. Abram might have told Lot to find his own place. Abram’s generosity showed his faith. He believed that even if he gave all the land away, God would still provide it to him and his descendants. Abram did not need to hold to things, while Lot's choices were selfish.

Abram wanted to avoid conflict (Hebrew meribah) because they were close relatives (literally brothers). Later, Moses rebuked Israel for the incident in the wilderness at Meribah (Exodus 17:1–7; Numbers 20:1–13). He taught them to have faith in such situations. So, Meribah became a word of warning for testing and arguing with the Lord in unbelief (see Psalm 95).

• What attracted Lot would not last. In the garden of the Lord, Adam and Eve gave in to their desire for what they saw. Later, Israel became enslaved in Egypt. Sodom and Gomorrah warn us about putting strong desires ahead of obedience to God (Genesis 3:5–6; see 1 John 2:16).

• Zoar was a small town in the plain where Lot and his daughters later fled (Genesis 19:18–22). Earlier, it was called Bela (14:2).

The narrator makes many contrasts between Lot and Abram.

• Lot's choice was completely selfish, showing no concern for Abram or faith in the Lord.

• the whole plain of the Jordan (literally the circle of the Jordan): This was probably near the southern end of the Dead Sea, based on descriptions in ancient records that locate cities of the plain. This area is now very desolate.

This suggests that Lot would not oppose Sodom's influence because he was focusing on his own interests.

Abram could give Lot the choice land because he believed in God’s promise. Abram waited for God to give him the land. Lot just took what he wanted.

• Hebron was an Anakite city (Numbers 13:22) originally called Kiriath-arba (meaning “city of Arba”). It was located in the forested highlands just north of the Negev (Genesis 12:9; Joshua 17:15). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all settled there (Genesis 18:1; 35:27; 37:14). Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were buried in Hebron (23:19; 35:27–29; 49:29–32; 50:13).

• Mamre was an Amorite (14:13; 15:16).