13:1 So Abram [would later be renamed Abraham (Gen. 17:5)] went up from Egypt [Abram went to Egypt because of famine in Canaan (cf. Gen. 12:10-20)] to the Negev [the southern desert area of Canaan], with his wife and everything he had, and Lot [the son of Abram’s brother Haran] went with him.

13:2 Abram had become very wealthy [first Bible reference to anyone being rich] in livestock and in silver and gold.

13:3 From the Negev he went from place to place [possibly seeking pasture for his animals] until he came to Bethel [means “the house of God”], to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier

13:4 and where he had first built an altar [cf. Gen. 12:8]. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.

13:5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

13:6 But the land could not support them [their large flocks and herds and tents] while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.

13:7 And quarreling [strife often threatens families; wealth and prosperity created tensions between Abram and Lot] arose between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites [a general designation for the inhabitants of Canaan] and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

13:8 So Abram [took the initiative to settle the quarrel; Abram did not demand his rights as the older man; cf. Eph. 4:26,32] said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling [at this point the strife was verbal and had not yet led to physical strife] between you and me [Abram acknowledged joint responsibility for the problem], or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers [close relatives; Abram understood the importance of family].

Note: What are some ways to resolve family conflicts?

13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. [Abram gave Lot the power to make the decision; shows Abram’s humility, generosity, and unselfish attitude] If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

13:10 Lot looked up and saw [evaluated his options and made a decision based on what he saw; no mention of prayer or seeking God’s direction] that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered [water meant wealth; essential for the survival of his flocks; good business decision], like the garden of the LORD [reference to the garden of Eden (Isaiah 51:3); looked like Eden but situated next to Sodom; appeared beautiful but in proximity too spiritual danger], like the land of Egypt [a fertile, irrigated land], toward Zoar [a small village (Gen. 19:22-23); a fertile area]. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah [indicates that God’s judgment later changed the geography of the area; the choice looked good at the time but would end in disaster].)

13:11 So Lot chose [chose the most attractive, profitable, and logical option—and still made a spiritually disastrous decision] for himself [he took what appeared to be the best portion available regardless of the compromised moral environment] the whole [not a small section but the entire region that appeared most desirable] plain of the Jordan [in spite of the moral degeneracy of those who already lived there (Genesis 13:13)] and set out toward the east [movement eastward is a symbolic indicator of moving away from God and spiritual decline; see Genesis 3:24 (Adam and Eve driven east out of Eden) and Genesis 4:16 (Cain settled east of Eden) and Genesis 11:2 (humanity moving east before Babel)]. The two men [Abram and Lot] parted [more than geographical separation] company [two life philosophies; Abram lived by faith and Lot lived by sight]:

Note: What does Lot’s choice tell you about his character and the kind of man he was?

13:12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom [Lot lived there until the city was destroyed (Gen. 19); cf. 2 Pet. 2:7-8].

13:13 [Lot’s decision to settle in this area would result in his family’s ruin] Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning [cf. Gen. 19:4-5] greatly against the LORD.

13:14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north [toward Shechem] and south [toward Jerusalem], east [toward the Jordan Valley] and west [toward the Plain of Sharon].

13:15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring [this must have been perplexing to Abram since he and his wife Sarai were advanced in age] forever.

13:16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth [hyperbole meaning too numerous to count], so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.

13:17 Go, walk [a symbolic claiming of all the land] through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

13:18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees [lush oaks which grow to a height of up to twenty-five feet] of Mamre at Hebron [located about 20 miles south of what would later be known as Jerusalem], where he built an altar to the LORD [third mention that Abram worshiped at an altar to the Lord (cf. Gen. 12:8; 13:3-4)].