Genesis 13:11

11 And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.

Genesis 13:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 13:11

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan
Because of its good pasturage, and because of the plenty of water there; the want of both which was the inconvenience he had laboured under, and had occasioned the strife between his and Abram's servants: and Lot journeyed east,
or "eastward"; for the plain of Jordan, and that part of the land on which Sodom and Gomorrah stood, were to the east of Bethel: the phrase is by some rendered "from the east" F25, and the particle used most commonly so signifies; and Jarchi observes, that he journeyed from east to west; and Aben Ezra says, that Sodom was at the west of Bethel, in which he is most certainly wrong, for it was most clearly in the eastern part of the land; wherefore others, that follow this version, interpret it, that he went from the east of Bethel, or he went into that country situated at the east with respect to the land of Canaan; but it is best to render it as we do, east or eastward, to or towards the east F26: and they separated themselves the one from the other;
that is, Abram and Lot, they parted good friends by consent; and the one went with his family, flocks, and herds, to one place, and settled there; and the other in another place, and so further animosities and contentions were prevented.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (Mdqm) "ab Oriente", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Cocceius, Schmidt.
F26 "Orientem versus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Cartwrightus.

Genesis 13:11 In-Context

9 Behold the whole land is before thee: depart from me, I pray thee: if thou wilt go to the left hand, I will take the right: if thou choose the right hand, I will pass to the left.
10 And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes to Segor.
11 And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: and Lot abode in the towns, that were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom.
13 And the men of Sodom were very wicked, and sinners before the face of the Lord beyond measure.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.