Genesis 13:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

NIV: Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

NASB: Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.

CSB: Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.

NLT: (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.)

KJV: And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

NKJV: Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

Even prior to the incident in Egypt, it was clear that Abram was wealthy (Genesis 12:5). Now we're told that he is very rich, specifically in livestock, silver, and gold. This is the first mention of Abram possessing gold and silver.

It is likely that Abram became much wealthier during his stay in Egypt. For one thing, Genesis 12:16 tells us that Pharaoh had treated Abram well and had given to him many animals, as well as human servants, when he took Sarai for his own wife. It is likely that Pharaoh allowed Abram to keep all he had given, and may have given him more, in light of his nearly-adulterous relationship with Sarai.

Pharaoh would have been motivated to appease Abram's God, as well as getting Abram out of the country, to end the plague on his household. So even though Abram failed to trust God, instead choosing to lie to protect himself, God was faithful to Abram in the end, both protecting and profiting him.

Genesis 13:1–13 describes Abram's generosity to his nephew Lot, offering Lot the choice of where to settle his large herds. Lot chooses the fertile lands along the well-watered Jordan, near the city of Sodom. Abram settles near Hebron after hearing from the Lord once more that he and his uncountable descendants will one day possess all the land he can see.

Both Abram and his nephew Lot have grown so wealthy in animals that they cannot occupy the same area together. They split up. At Abram's gracious offer to choose which land to take for himself, Lot elects to live on the well-watered plains of Jordan near Sodom. After the Lord speaks to Abram, reaffirming and expanding on His promises, Abram settles near Hebron, near the great trees of an Amorite man called Mamre. Abram builds an altar to the Lord there and continues to worship Yahweh.

Genesis 12 ended with Abram and his large company being kicked out of Egypt by an angry Pharaoh. Back in Canaan, Abram and his nephew Lot are forced to split up due to the large size of their herds. Lot's choice to live near the wicked city of Sodom will have grave implications in coming chapters. God reaffirms and expands on His promises to Abram, who settles near Hebron, building another altar to the Lord and worshiping God there.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 4/28/2024 10:05:20 PM