Genesis 13

Genesis 13 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter
Abram's faith

Since the land could not support both Lot's and Abraham's family, they each went their own way. Even though good land was not plentiful, Abraham allowed Lot to choose the better land because he trusted in God to fulfill his promises. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#trust and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#fulfill and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise)

God's covenant with Abram

God made a covenant with Abram. This covenant was not conditioned upon anything that Abraham needed to do, but the fulfillment of its promises is conditioned upon the actions of each generation of his descendants. It has not yet been fulfilled in its entirety. This chapter continues the covenant which began in the previous chapter. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Built an altar

Abram would have built an altar in order to offer sacrifices to Yahweh. There is an implicit understanding that building an altar was an act of worship. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

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Genesis 13:1

went up from

"left" or "departed from"

went into the Negev

The Negev was a desert region in southern Canaan, east of Egypt. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "went back to the Negev desert" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 13:2

Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold

"Abram had many livestock, much silver, and much gold"

Genesis 13:3

He continued on his journey

Abram and his family traveled by stages, going from place to place. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "They continued on their journey" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

to the place where his tent had been before

Translators may add a footnote that says "See Genesis 12:8." The time of his travel can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "to the place where he had set up his tent before he went to Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 13:4

called on the name of Yahweh

"prayed in the name of Yahweh" or "worshiped Yahweh." See how you translated this in Genesis 12:8.

Genesis 13:5

Now

This word is used to show what follows is background information to help the reader understand the events that follow. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

Genesis 13:6

The land was not able to support them

There was not enough grazing land and water for all their animals.

their possessions

This includes livestock, which need pasture and water.

could not stay together

"could not live together"

Genesis 13:7

The Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time

This is another reason that the land could not support them all.

Genesis 13:8

Let there be no strife between you and me

"Let's not quarrel"

strife

arguments or fights

between your herdsmen and my herdsmen

"let's stop the men who take care of our animals from quarreling"

after all, we are family

"because we are family"

family

"kinsmen" or "relatives." Lot was Abraham's nephew.

Genesis 13:9

Is not the whole land before you?

This rhetorical question can be translated as a positive statement. Alternate translation: "The whole land is available for you to use." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Go ahead and separate yourself from me

Abraham was speaking kindly to Lot and encouraging him to do something that would help them both. "Let's separate."

If you go to the left, then I will go to the right

Possible meanings are 1) "If you go one way, then I will go the other" or 2) "If you go to the north, I will go to the south." Abram let Lot choose the part of the land he wanted, and Abram would take what remained.

Genesis 13:10

the whole plain of the Jordan

This refers to the general region of the Jordan River.

was well watered

"had much water"

like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt

"like the garden of Yahweh or like the land of Egypt." These were two different places.

the garden of Yahweh

This is another name for the garden of Eden.

garden

Use the same word for "garden" as you used in Genesis 2:8.

This was before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah

This anticipates something that would happen later. It is important here because it explains why Lot settled in a region that later was not fertile.

Genesis 13:11

the relatives

"the kinsmen" or "the families." This refers to Lot and Abram with their households.

Genesis 13:12

Abram lived

"Abram made his home" or "Abram stayed"

the land of Canaan

"the land of the Canaanites"

He set up his tents as far away as Sodom

Possible meanings are 1) "He set up his tents near Sodom" or 2) "He moved his tents around in an area that reached all the way to Sodom."

Genesis 13:13

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Genesis 13:14

after Lot had departed from him

"after Lot left Abraham"

Genesis 13:15

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Genesis 13:16

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Genesis 13:17

walk through the length and breadth of the land

"walk around all over the whole land"

Genesis 13:18

Mamre

This was the name of the man who owned the oak trees. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Hebron

This is the name of a place. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

an altar to Yahweh

"an altar for worshiping Yahweh"