Genesis 13:11

11 elegitque sibi Loth regionem circa Iordanem et recessit ab oriente divisique sunt alterutrum a fratre suo

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 ecce universa terra coram te est recede a me obsecro si ad sinistram ieris ego ad dexteram tenebo si tu dexteram elegeris ego ad sinistram pergam
10 elevatis itaque Loth oculis vidit omnem circa regionem Iordanis quae universa inrigabatur antequam subverteret Dominus Sodomam et Gomorram sicut paradisus Domini et sicut Aegyptus venientibus in Segor
11 elegitque sibi Loth regionem circa Iordanem et recessit ab oriente divisique sunt alterutrum a fratre suo
12 Abram habitavit in terra Chanaan Loth moratus est in oppidis quae erant circa Iordanem et habitavit in Sodomis
13 homines autem Sodomitae pessimi erant et peccatores coram Domino nimis
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.