17 Arise, H6965 walk H1980 through the land H776 in the length H753 of it and in the breadth H7341 of it; for I will give H5414 it unto thee.
For all the land H776 which thou seest, H7200 to thee will I give it, H5414 and to thy seed H2233 for H5704 ever. H5769
And Moses H4872 sent H7971 them to spy out H8446 the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 and said H559 unto them, Get you up H5927 this way southward, H5045 and go up H5927 into the mountain: H2022 And see H7200 the land, H776 what it is; and the people H5971 that dwelleth H3427 therein, whether they be strong H2389 or weak, H7504 few H4592 or many; H7227 And what the land H776 is that they dwell in, H3427 whether it be good H2896 or bad; H7451 and what cities H5892 they be that they dwell H3427 in, H2007 whether in tents, H4264 or in strong holds; H4013 And what the land H776 is, whether it be fat H8082 or lean, H7330 whether there be H3426 wood H6086 therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, H2388 and bring H3947 of the fruit H6529 of the land. H776 Now the time H3117 was the time H3117 of the firstripe H1061 grapes. H6025 So they went up, H5927 and searched H8446 the land H776 from the wilderness H4057 of Zin H6790 unto Rehob, H7340 as men come H935 to Hamath. H2574 And they ascended H5927 by the south, H5045 and came H935 unto Hebron; H2275 where Ahiman, H289 Sheshai, H8344 and Talmai, H8526 the children H3211 of Anak, H6061 were. (Now Hebron H2275 was built H1129 seven H7651 years H8141 before H6440 Zoan H6814 in Egypt.) H4714 And they came H935 unto the brook H5158 of Eshcol, H812 and cut down H3772 from thence a branch H2156 with one H259 cluster H811 of grapes, H6025 and they bare H5375 it between two H8147 upon a staff; H4132 and they brought of the pomegranates, H7416 and of the figs. H8384 The place H4725 was called H7121 the brook H5158 Eshcol, H812 because of H182 the cluster of grapes H811 which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cut down H3772 from thence.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 13
Commentary on Genesis 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Ge 13:1-18. Return from Egypt.
1. went up … south—Palestine being a highland country, the entrance from Egypt by its southern boundary is a continual ascent.
2. very rich—compared with the pastoral tribes to which Abraham belonged. An Arab sheik is considered rich who has a hundred or two hundred tents, from sixty to a hundred camels, a thousand sheep and goats respectively. And Abram being very rich, must have far exceeded that amount of pastoral property. "Gold and silver" being rare among these peoples, his probably arose from the sale of his produce in Egypt.
3. went on his journeys—His progress would be by slow marches and frequent encampments as Abram had to regulate his movements by the prospect of water and pasturage.
unto the place … between Beth-el and Hai—"a conspicuous hill—its topmost summit resting on the rocky slopes below, and distinguished by its olive groves—offering a natural base for the altar and a fitting shade for the tent of the patriarch" [Stanley].
4. there Abram called on the name of the Lord—He felt a strong desire to reanimate his faith and piety on the scene of his former worship: it might be to express humility and penitence for his misconduct in Egypt or thankfulness for deliverance from perils—to embrace the first opportunity on returning to Canaan of leading his family to renew allegiance to God and offer the typical sacrifices which pointed to the blessings of the promise.
7. And there was a strife—Abraham'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 [Ge 13:8]. Waiving his right to dictate, he gave the freedom of choice to Lot. The conduct of Abraham was not only disinterested and peaceable, but generous and condescending in an extraordinary degree, exemplifying the Scripture precepts (Mt 6:32; Ro 12:10, 11; Php 2:4).
10. Lot lifted up his eyes—Travellers say that from the top of this hill, a little "to the east of Beth-el" [Ge 12:8], they can see the Jordan, the broad meadows on either bank, and the waving line of verdure which marks the course of the stream.
11. Then Lot chose him all the plain—a choice excellent from a worldly point of view, but most inexpedient for his best interests. He seems, though a good man, to have been too much under the influence of a selfish and covetous spirit: and how many, alas! imperil the good of their souls for the prospect of worldly advantage.
14, 15. Lift up now thine eyes … all the land which thou seest—So extensive a survey of the country, in all directions, can be obtained from no other point in the neighborhood; and those plains and hills, then lying desolate before the eyes of the solitary patriarch, were to be peopled with a mighty nation "like the dust of the earth in number," as they were in Solomon's time (1Ki 4:20).
18. the plain of Mamre … built … an altar—the renewal of the promise was acknowledged by Abram by a fresh tribute of devout gratitude.