Genesis 13 Study Notes

13:10 Thinking especially of his flocks’ need for water and pasture, Lot was particularly interested in the southern end of the plain of the Jordan, an area that was well watered everywhere. So well off was this region before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, two prominent cities located there (19:24-25), that it was reputed to be as lush as the Lord’s garden—or the garden of Eden (2:9-10). The name Zoar anticipates the events of 19:20-22; the name of the village at this time was Bela (14:2).

13:11 To the careful reader, Lot’s journey eastward has some troubling implications. Other situations in the early chapters of Genesis in which the “east” is mentioned as a destination include those of Adam and Eve following their sin in Eden (3:24), Cain following his judgment (4:16), and sinful humanity prior to the tower of Babylon incident (11:2).

13:12 Lot apparently lived a transitional existence, living in the cities on the plain while also maintaining a tent camp near Sodom in order to maintain his flocks.

13:13 The evil state of the men of Sodom and how they were sinning immensely against the Lord will be addressed further in 18:20-19:25.

13:14-15 When Abram gave parts of Canaan to Lot in the land-for-peace deal, it threatened to undo God’s earlier promise to Abram (12:7), but God’s promises could not be thwarted by Abram’s actions. In spite of Abram’s commitment to Lot, the Lord himself would give Abram all the land that he could see in every direction. What is more, Canaan would also belong to Abram’s offspring forever. Lot’s offspring would not be left landless, however. His sons—Moab and Ben-Ammi (19:37-38)—would become the founders of Moab and Ammon, nations east of the land promised to Abram.

13:16 In addition to land, the Lord also promised Abram offspring too numerous to be counted. Since Abram was more than seventy-five years old and still childless at the time the Lord spoke these words, this divine pledge was particularly amazing.

13:17-18 Perhaps as a test of Abram’s faith, the Lord issued two commands. With them came a reaffirmation of the promise first uttered when Abram arrived in the promised land (12:7). Immediately after God’s command to walk around the land, through its length and width, Abram went to live near the oaks of Mamre, a site about two miles north of Hebron. Hebron became the primary residence of Abram and, later, his son Isaac (18:1; 23:2; 35:27; 37:14).