Genesis 13:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together,

NIV: But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.

NASB: And the land could not support both of them while living together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together.

CSB: But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together,

NLT: But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together.

KJV: And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

NKJV: Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.

Abram's large company of travelers included Lot, his nephew. God's blessing on Abram extended to Lot, who had also become quite wealthy in flocks and herds and servants. In fact, God's blessing was so great that the land could not support Abram's and Lot's possessions living near each other. They would soon exhaust all the local resources.

The following verses will make clear that Abram and Lot were going to need to separate and spread out from each other. This development will set up the events of the next several chapters. Lot will choose to live close to the rich—but infamously wicked—city of Sodom. Lot's wealth will result in his own kidnapping, and a rescue by Abram (Genesis 14:1–16). Pursuit of wealth will also lead Lot to an eventual life within Sodom itself, necessitating a rescue when God judges the city for its sin (Genesis 19).

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 5/3/2024 7:23:59 AM