Christianity
Genesis 13Abram and Lot Part Ways
Summary
Genesis 13 follows Abram back from Egypt, rich in cattle, silver and gold, to the altar near Bethel. Quarrels break out between his herdsmen and Lot's, and Abram offers Lot first choice of the land so there will be no strife between kin. Lot chooses the well-watered plain of the Jordan and pitches his tent toward Sodom, whose people are described as wicked. God then promises Abram all the land he can see and descendants as countless as dust. Abram settles at Mamre near Hebron.
Key verse
“And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.”
Genesis 13:8
Themes
- Peacemaking
- Generosity
- Choices and Consequences
- Land Promise
Text
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Judaism
Psalm 133: Brothers in UnityPsalm 133 opens by praising how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity, the very ideal Abram appeals to when he tells Lot, we be brethren.
Taoism
Tao Te Ching 66: The One Who Does Not ContendLaozi teaches that the sage puts himself last, and because he does not contend, no one can contend with him. Abram's willingness to yield the better land reflects a similar wisdom, and Genesis has God reward it.
Questions about Genesis 13
Why did Lot choose Sodom?
Genesis 13:10 says Lot saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD, so he chose it and moved his tent toward Sodom.
What land did God promise Abram in Genesis 13?
Genesis 13:14 to 17 promises Abram all the land he could see in every direction, for him and his descendants forever, and tells him to walk through its length and breadth.