Genesis 13

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 13

1¶ And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2And Abram [was] very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

3And 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;

4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5¶ And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9[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.

10¶ 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.

11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched [his] tent toward Sodom.

13But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

14¶ 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:

15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

16And 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.

17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

18Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After returning from Egypt, Abram, now very rich, and his nephew Lot found their vast possessions too great for them to dwell together, leading to strife among their herdsmen. Abram nobly proposed separation, allowing Lot to choose his dwelling place. Lot chose the well-watered plain of Jordan, journeying eastward towards Sodom, while Abram remained in Canaan. Following Lot's departure, the LORD reaffirmed and expanded His promise of land and innumerable seed to Abram.

Medium Summary

Abram, along with his wife and nephew Lot, returned from Egypt to the south of Canaan, being exceedingly rich in livestock, silver, and gold. They journeyed back to Bethel, where Abram had previously built an altar and called upon the LORD. Due to their immense wealth and large flocks, the land could not sustain both Abram and Lot dwelling together, which led to contention between their herdsmen. To prevent further strife, Abram generously offered Lot the choice of the land, proposing they separate. Lot, lifting his eyes, chose the fertile plain of Jordan, described as being like the garden of the LORD, and moved his tents towards Sodom, whose inhabitants were exceedingly wicked. Abram then settled in the land of Canaan, specifically the plain of Mamre in Hebron, where he built another altar. After their separation, the LORD spoke to Abram, promising him all the land he could see in every direction, and that his seed would be as numerous as the dust of the earth.

Long Summary

Abram, accompanied by his wife and Lot, departed from Egypt and journeyed northward into the Negeb, possessing great wealth in cattle, silver, and gold. He continued his travels back to the region between Bethel and Hai, to the very spot where he had first pitched his tent and built an altar, and there he again called upon the name of the LORD. Lot, who was with Abram, also had significant flocks, herds, and tents, and their combined substance was so great that the land was unable to support them dwelling together. This abundance led to a dispute between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, while the Canaanites and Perizzites also inhabited the land. To resolve the conflict and maintain peace, Abram approached Lot, urging that no strife exist between them, as they were brethren. He magnanimously offered Lot the entire land to choose from, suggesting that if Lot went left, Abram would go right, or vice versa. Lot surveyed the land and chose the well-watered plain of Jordan, which was fertile like the Garden of the LORD, even before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot then journeyed eastward, settling in the cities of the plain and pitching his tent toward Sodom, whose men were exceedingly wicked before the LORD. Abram, in contrast, remained in the land of Canaan. After Lot's separation, the LORD spoke to Abram, commanding him to look in every direction—north, south, east, and west—and promised to give all the land he saw to him and to his seed forever. The LORD further promised to make Abram's seed as innumerable as the dust of the earth. Abram was then instructed to walk through the length and breadth of the land, as it was given to him. Subsequently, Abram moved his tent and settled in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

Core Concepts

  • Abram's WealthAbram is described as being 'very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold' upon his return from Egypt, indicating significant material prosperity. This wealth, along with Lot's possessions, became a catalyst for their eventual separation.
  • Return to Bethel and Altar BuildingAbram's journey back to Bethel signifies a return to a place of prior worship and covenant. He rebuilt the altar he had made there at first, demonstrating his consistent practice of calling on the name of the LORD.
  • Strife and SeparationThe immense substance of both Abram and Lot led to contention between their herdsmen, as the land could not sustain them together. Abram initiated a peaceful separation, offering Lot the first choice of dwelling place to avoid further conflict.
  • Lot's Choice and SodomLot chose the fertile and well-watered plain of Jordan, described as being like the Garden of the LORD, and moved his tents towards Sodom. This choice placed him in proximity to a city whose inhabitants were noted as 'wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly'.
  • Divine Land PromiseAfter Lot's departure, the LORD reiterated and expanded His covenant promise to Abram, granting him all the land he could see in every direction. This promise included the assurance that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth, signifying an eternal inheritance.
  • Abram's Continued FaithAbram's actions throughout the chapter, particularly his peacemaking with Lot and his subsequent building of an altar in Mamre, demonstrate his ongoing faith and devotion to the LORD. He consistently sought to honor God and maintain righteous conduct.