7 And there was a strife H7379 between the herdmen H7462 of Abram's H87 cattle H4735 and the herdmen H7462 of Lot's H3876 cattle: H4735 and the Canaanite H3669 and the Perizzite H6522 dwelled H3427 then in the land. H776
And the herdmen H7462 of Gerar H1642 did strive H7378 with Isaac's H3327 herdmen, H7462 saying, H559 The water H4325 is ours: and he called H7121 the name H8034 of the well H875 Esek; H6230 because they strove H6229 with him.
And Abram H87 passed through H5674 the land H776 unto the place H4725 of Sichem, H7927 unto the plain H436 of Moreh. H4176 And the Canaanite H3669 was then H227 in the land. H776
Do G4160 all things G3956 without G5565 murmurings G1112 and G2532 disputings: G1261 That G2443 ye may be G1096 blameless G273 and G2532 harmless, G185 the sons G5043 of God, G2316 without rebuke, G298 in G1722 the midst G3319 of a crooked G4646 and G2532 perverse G1294 nation, G1074 among G1722 whom G3739 ye shine G5316 as G5613 lights G5458 in G1722 the world; G2889
Having G2192 your G5216 conversation G391 honest G2570 among G1722 the Gentiles: G1484 that, G2443 whereas G1722 G3739 they speak against G2635 you G5216 as G5613 evildoers, G2555 they may G1392 by G1537 your good G2570 works, G2041 which they shall behold, G2029 glorify G1392 God G2316 in G1722 the day G2250 of visitation. G1984
For G1063 we ourselves G2249 also G2532 were G2258 sometimes G4218 foolish, G453 disobedient, G545 deceived, G4105 serving G1398 divers G4164 lusts G1939 and G2532 pleasures, G2237 living G1236 in G1722 malice G2549 and G2532 envy, G5355 hateful, G4767 and hating G3404 one another. G240
And the border H1366 of the Canaanites H3669 was from Sidon, H6721 as thou comest H935 to Gerar, H1642 unto Gaza; H5804 as thou goest, H935 unto Sodom, H5467 and Gomorrah, H6017 and Admah, H126 and Zeboim, H6636 even unto Lasha. H3962
Also I said, H559 It is not good H2896 that H1697 ye do: H6213 ought ye not to walk H3212 in the fear H3374 of our God H430 because of the reproach H2781 of the heathen H1471 our enemies? H341
And the shepherds H7462 came H935 and drove them away: H1644 but Moses H4872 stood up H6965 and helped H3467 them, and watered H8248 their flock. H6629
And Jacob H3290 said H559 to Simeon H8095 and Levi, H3878 Ye have troubled H5916 me to make me to stink H887 among the inhabitants H3427 of the land, H776 among the Canaanites H3669 and the Perizzites: H6522 and I being few H4962 in number, H4557 they shall gather themselves together H622 against me, and slay me; H5221 and I shall be destroyed, H8045 I and my house. H1004
And Abraham H85 reproved H3198 Abimelech H40 because H182 of a well H875 of water, H4325 which Abimelech's H40 servants H5650 had violently taken away. H1497
In the same H1931 day H3117 the LORD H3068 made H3772 a covenant H1285 with Abram, H87 saying, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 have I given H5414 this land, H776 from the river H5104 of Egypt H4714 unto the great H1419 river, H5104 the river H5104 Euphrates: H6578 The Kenites, H7017 and the Kenizzites, H7074 and the Kadmonites, H6935 And the Hittites, H2850 and the Perizzites, H6522 and the Rephaims, H7497 And the Amorites, H567 and the Canaanites, H3669 and the Girgashites, H1622 and the Jebusites. H2983
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.