Genesis 13:12

12 Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.

Genesis 13:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 13:12

Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan
In that part of the land strictly so called, where the family of the Canaanites had their abode; for otherwise taking Canaan in a more general sense, the plain of Jordan, and cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, were in the land of Canaan. And Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain;
in the neighbourhood of them, or near those cities, which were built on the plain of Jordan, for he could not dwell in more than one, if in one; for it looks as if at his first settlement he did not dwell in any, but near them all, especially Sodom: since it follows, and pitched [his] tent toward Sodom,
or "even unto Sodom" F1; and it may be rendered, as it is by some, "he pitched his tents" F2, for himself, his family, and his servants, his shepherds and his herdsmen, which reached unto Sodom, and where he afterwards dwelt, at least at the gate of it.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Mdo de) "usque Sodom", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt.
F2 (lhayw) "movens tentoria", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator & Tigurine version; so Jarchi.

Genesis 13:12 In-Context

10 Lot looked. He saw the whole plain of the Jordan spread out, well watered (this was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like God's garden, like Egypt, and stretching all the way to Zoar.
11 Lot took the whole plain of the Jordan. Lot set out to the east.
12 Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.
13 The people of Sodom were evil - flagrant sinners against God.
14 After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.