GENESIS CHAPTER 13 ------------------ Verse 1, Abram leaves Egypt, with his wife and Lot and went into the south, not south of Egypt, but the southern part of the land of Canaan. south = negeb {neh'-gheb} 1) south-country, Nekeb, south 1a) south-country 1a1) region of southern Judah, boundaries not specific 1b) south Verses 2-4, Abram returns to the place which he left, between Bethel and Hai, where had built the altar and called upon the name of the LORD. We see that Abram, after leaving Egypt ("the world") is very rich, and it is due to these riches that leads to the strife (vs 7 & 8) and separation from his nephew, Lot. How often material things come between relatives. Verse 5-9, Abram and Lot separate themselves because the land could not bare them both, with all that they had. There was strife between the herdsmen, and most probably this would have led to strife between Abram and Lot. It appears that Lot is most to blame for this strife, because of his actions taken. He had acquired a taste for the world when he was down in Egypt. Verse 10, When faced with a decision, Lot instead of walking by faith and asking in prayer what he should do, "lifted up his eyes." He made his decision based upon sight. 1Jo 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the EYES, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Eve "saw" the tree, and it was pleasant to the eyes. Gen 3:6. Verse 11, He gave no thoughts to the needs of Abram, or their relationship, but took what he thought was the best. Abram made a generous offer to Lot to solve the problem, and Lot, in his greed, took advantage of it, so he thought. He saw, he coveted, and then he took. Compare: Achan's answer to Joshua Jos 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. Verses 11-13 Lot saw the land as the garden of the Lord, like that of Egypt, from which he had come (vs 10); but, what God saw was that the men of Sodom were wicked men. He saw a wicked place, which He would destroy. Abram dwelt in Canaan, but Lot dwelt toward Sodom, a wicked place. 1) He looked 2) he chose 3) he separated himself 4) he dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom (vs 12) 5) he dwelt in Sodom (14:12) 6) finally he has a great position in Sodom (19:1) and his daughter is married to a man of Sodom. Abram walked by faith; Lot walked by sight! From all of this one might think that Lot was not a child of God, but the scripture says, 2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered JUST Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that RIGHTEOUS man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the GODLY out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: Verse 14-18, Abram communes with the LORD after the departure of Lot, and the LORD confirms the covenant that He made to him. The land is given to Abram's seed forever, and his seed will be numerous, especially if we include his spiritual seed. As yet Abram is childless, which he brings up before the Lord in Gen 15:2-3, and the Lord tells him that his heir will be from his own loins (15:4). Young's Lit. verse 18: "And Abram tenteth, and cometh, and dwelleth among the oaks of Mamre, which [are] in Hebron, and buildeth there an altar to Jehovah." plain = 'elown {ay-lone'} 1) tree, great tree, terebinth 2) plain Mamre = "strength" or "fatness" Hebron = "association" 1) a city in south Judah approx 20 south of Jerusalem and approx 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar.