6 And the land H776 was not able to bear H5375 them, that they might dwell H3427 together: H3162 for their substance H7399 was great, H7227 so that they could H3201 not dwell H3427 together. H3162
And Esau H6215 took H3947 his wives, H802 and his sons, H1121 and his daughters, H1323 and all the persons H5315 of his house, H1004 and his cattle, H4735 and all his beasts, H929 and all his substance, H7075 which he had got H7408 in the land H776 of Canaan; H3667 and went H3212 into the country H776 from the face H6440 of his brother H251 Jacob. H3290 For their riches H7399 were more H7227 than that they might dwell H3427 together; H3162 and the land H776 wherein they were strangers H4033 could H3201 not bear H5375 them because H6440 of their cattle. H4735
He that loveth H157 silver H3701 shall not be satisfied H7646 with silver; H3701 nor he that loveth H157 abundance H1995 with increase: H8393 this is also vanity. H1892 When goods H2896 increase, H7235 they are increased H7231 that eat H398 them: and what good H3788 is there to the owners H1167 thereof, saving H518 the beholding H7207 H7212 of them with their eyes? H5869
And G2532 he thought G1260 within G1722 himself, G1438 saying, G3004 What G5101 shall I do, G4160 because G3754 I have G2192 no G3756 room where G4226 to bestow G4863 my G3450 fruits? G2590 And G2532 he said, G2036 This G5124 will I do: G4160 I will pull down G2507 my G3450 barns, G596 and G2532 build G3618 greater; G3187 and G2532 there G1563 will I bestow G4863 all G3956 my G3450 fruits G1081 and G2532 my G3450 goods. G18
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 13
Commentary on Genesis 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Ge 13:1-18. Return from Egypt.
1. went up … south—Palestine being a highland country, the entrance from Egypt by its southern boundary is a continual ascent.
2. very rich—compared with the pastoral tribes to which Abraham belonged. An Arab sheik is considered rich who has a hundred or two hundred tents, from sixty to a hundred camels, a thousand sheep and goats respectively. And Abram being very rich, must have far exceeded that amount of pastoral property. "Gold and silver" being rare among these peoples, his probably arose from the sale of his produce in Egypt.
3. went on his journeys—His progress would be by slow marches and frequent encampments as Abram had to regulate his movements by the prospect of water and pasturage.
unto the place … between Beth-el and Hai—"a conspicuous hill—its topmost summit resting on the rocky slopes below, and distinguished by its olive groves—offering a natural base for the altar and a fitting shade for the tent of the patriarch" [Stanley].
4. there Abram called on the name of the Lord—He felt a strong desire to reanimate his faith and piety on the scene of his former worship: it might be to express humility and penitence for his misconduct in Egypt or thankfulness for deliverance from perils—to embrace the first opportunity on returning to Canaan of leading his family to renew allegiance to God and offer the typical sacrifices which pointed to the blessings of the promise.
7. And there was a strife—Abraham's character appears here in a most amiable light. Having a strong sense of religion, he was afraid of doing anything that might tend to injure its character or bring discredit on its name, and he rightly judged that such unhappy effects would be produced if two persons whom nature and grace had so closely connected should come to a rupture [Ge 13:8]. Waiving his right to dictate, he gave the freedom of choice to Lot. The conduct of Abraham was not only disinterested and peaceable, but generous and condescending in an extraordinary degree, exemplifying the Scripture precepts (Mt 6:32; Ro 12:10, 11; Php 2:4).
10. Lot lifted up his eyes—Travellers say that from the top of this hill, a little "to the east of Beth-el" [Ge 12:8], they can see the Jordan, the broad meadows on either bank, and the waving line of verdure which marks the course of the stream.
11. Then Lot chose him all the plain—a choice excellent from a worldly point of view, but most inexpedient for his best interests. He seems, though a good man, to have been too much under the influence of a selfish and covetous spirit: and how many, alas! imperil the good of their souls for the prospect of worldly advantage.
14, 15. Lift up now thine eyes … all the land which thou seest—So extensive a survey of the country, in all directions, can be obtained from no other point in the neighborhood; and those plains and hills, then lying desolate before the eyes of the solitary patriarch, were to be peopled with a mighty nation "like the dust of the earth in number," as they were in Solomon's time (1Ki 4:20).
18. the plain of Mamre … built … an altar—the renewal of the promise was acknowledged by Abram by a fresh tribute of devout gratitude.