Genesis 13:5-9

5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.

7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.

9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Genesis 13:5-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 13

This chapter gives an account of the return of Abram from Egypt to the land of Canaan, and to the same place in it he had been before, Ge 13:1-4 and of a strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, and the occasion of it, Ge 13:5-7 which was composed by the prudent proposal of Abram, Ge 13:8,9 upon which they parted; Abram continued in Canaan, and Lot chose the plain of Jordan, and dwelt near Sodom, a place infamous for wickedness, Ge 13:10-13 after which the Lord renewed to Abram the grant of the land of Canaan to him, and to his seed, Ge 13:14-17 and then he removed to the plain of Mamre in Hebron, and there set up the worship of God, Ge 13:18.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 11:27
• 2. S Genesis 12:5; Genesis 33:9; Genesis 36:7
• 3. Genesis 26:20,21; Numbers 20:3
• 4. S Genesis 10:18
• 5. Genesis 15:20; Genesis 34:30; Exodus 3:8; Judges 1:4
• 6. Genesis 12:6; Genesis 34:30
• 7. S Genesis 11:27
• 8. Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 20:3
• 9. Genesis 19:9; Exodus 2:14; Numbers 16:13; Psalms 133:1
• 10. Genesis 20:15; Genesis 34:10; Genesis 47:6; Jeremiah 40:4