1 And Abram H87 went up H5927 out of Egypt, H4714 he, and his wife, H802 and all that he had, and Lot H3876 with him, into the south. H5045
And Abram H87 journeyed, H5265 going on H1980 still H5265 toward the south. H5045 And there was a famine H7458 in the land: H776 and Abram H87 went down H3381 into Egypt H4714 to sojourn H1481 there; for the famine H7458 was grievous H3515 in the land. H776 And it came to pass, when H834 he was come near H7126 to enter H935 into Egypt, H4714 that he said H559 unto Sarai H8297 his wife, H802 Behold H2009 now, H4994 I know H3045 that thou art a fair H3303 woman H802 to look upon: H4758 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians H4713 shall see H7200 thee, that they shall say, H559 This is his wife: H802 and they will kill H2026 me, but they will save thee alive. H2421 Say, H559 I pray thee, H4994 thou art my sister: H269 that H4616 it may be well H3190 with me for thy sake; and my soul H5315 shall live H2421 because of thee. H1558 And it came to pass, that, when Abram H87 was come H935 into Egypt, H4714 the Egyptians H4713 beheld H7200 the woman H802 that she was very H3966 fair. H3303 The princes H8269 also of Pharaoh H6547 saw H7200 her, and commended H1984 her before H413 Pharaoh: H6547 and the woman H802 was taken H3947 into Pharaoh's H6547 house. H1004 And he entreated H3190 Abram H87 well H3190 for her sake: and he had sheep, H6629 and oxen, H1241 and he asses, H2543 and menservants, H5650 and maidservants, H8198 and she asses, H860 and camels. H1581 And the LORD H3068 plagued H5060 Pharaoh H6547 and his house H1004 with great H1419 plagues H5061 because of H1697 Sarai H8297 Abram's H87 wife. H802 And Pharaoh H6547 called H7121 Abram, H87 and said, H559 What is this that thou hast done H6213 unto me? why didst thou not tell H5046 me that she was thy wife? H802 Why saidst thou, H559 She is my sister? H269 so I might have taken H3947 her to me to wife: H802 now therefore behold thy wife, H802 take H3947 her, and go thy way. H3212 And Pharaoh H6547 commanded H6680 his men H582 concerning him: and they sent him away, H7971 and his wife, H802 and all that he had.
So Joshua H3091 smote H5221 all the country H776 of the hills, H2022 and of the south, H5045 and of the vale, H8219 and of the springs, H794 and all their kings: H4428 he left H7604 none remaining, H8300 but utterly destroyed H2763 all that breathed, H5397 as the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 commanded. H6680
And they shall divide H2505 it into seven H7651 parts: H2506 Judah H3063 shall abide H5975 in their coast H1366 on the south, H5045 and the house H1004 of Joseph H3130 shall abide H5975 in their coasts H1366 on the north. H6828
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.