Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
1, Abram and Lot returne out of Aegypt into Canaan, 4, where he calleth on the name of the Lord. 5, Lot and Abram being both rich, by disagreement betweene their berdmen, they part asunder. 10, Lot goeth to wicked Sodom. 14, God reneweth the promises to Abram. 18, He removeth to Hebron, and there buildeth an Altar.
ANd Abram went up out of Aegypt, he and his wife, and all that hee had; and Lot with him, unto the South. And Abram was very rich: in cattell, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journies, from the south, and unto Beth-el: unto the place, where his tent had beene at the beginning; betweene Beth-el and Ai. VntoUnto the place of the altar which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of Iehovah. And Lot also that went with Abram; hee had flockes, and herds, and tents. And the land did not beare them, to dwell together: for their substance was much, that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife betweene the herdmen of Abrams cattell, and the herdmen of Lots cattell: and Canaanite and the Pherezite, was then dwelling in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, let there be I pray thee, no strife betweene mee and thee; and betweene my herdmen, and thy herdmen: for we be men brethren. Is not all the land before thee? Separate thy selfe I pray thee from me: if (thou wilt take) the left-hand, then I will take the right; and if the right-hand, then I will take the left. And Lot lifted-up his eyes, and saw all the plaine of Iordan, that all of it was well-watered: before Iehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, (it was) as the garden of Iehovah, as the land of Aegypt, as thou commest to Zoar. And Lot chose to him, all the plaine of Iordan; and Lot journied Eastward; and they were separated, each man from his brother. Abram, hee dwelt in the land of Canaan: and Lot, he dwelt in the Cities of the plaine; and pitched-tent unto Sodom. And the men of Sodom, were evill and sinners, to Iehovah, exceedingly. And Iehovah said unto Abram, after Lot was separated from him; lift up now thine eyes, and see, from the place where thou art: to the north, and to the south, and to the east, and to the Sea. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it: and to thy seed for ever. And I will put thy seed, as the dust of the earth: so that if a man bee able to number the dust of the earth; thy seed also shall be numbred. Arise, walke through the land; in the length of it, and in the bredth of it: for to thee will I give it. And Abram removed-tent; and came and dwelt in the Okes of Mamree, which is in Chebron: and hee builded there an altar unto Iehovah.
Annotations.
THe south] in Greeke, the desert: meaning the southerne part of Canaan. (see Gen. 12. 9.) for otherwise Canaan was Northward from Aegypt.
Vers. 2. very rich] Hebrew, vehemently waighty (or heavy▪) Which word is applyed to weight of burden, as in 1 King. 12. 4. to weight of glory, as in Gen. 31. 1. to waight of multitude of people, as in 2 King. 6. 14. or of cattell, as Exod. 12. 38. and so to all manner of …iches; as the Greeke here translateth it rich. Thus Gods blessing promised in Gen. 12. 2. was in part performed, for his blessing maketh rich, Prov. 10. 22. Gen. 24. 35. And as Abram now, so his children afterward, returned out of Aegypt, with great riches, Exod. 12. 32. 35. 36. 38. These figured the graces of God, as faith, knowledge, and the like, Iam. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 5. Colos. 2. 2.
Vers. 4. called there] the Chaldee saith, prayed there. See the notes on Gen. 12. 8. As Abram returned to his first altar, and there served God: so his children after him, were to returne to Abrams first faith and service, from the idols of Aegypt, wherewith they had beene defiled, Exod. 4. 22. 23. Ezek. 20. 7. 8.
Vers. 5. tents] that is, servants dwelling in tents. So Ier. 49. 29. 1 Chron. 4. 41.
Vers. 6. did not beare] the Greeke translateth, received (or contained) them not; that is, could not containe them, as the words following doe explaine it. And so the Scripture sometime resolveth this phrase; as, who shall judge? 2 Chron. 1. 10. that is, who can judge? 1 King. 3. 9. It shall not stand, Mat. 12. 25. that is, It can not stand, Mark 3. 24. This kind goeth not out, Mat. 17. 21. that is, cannot goe out, Mar. 9. 29. and sundry the like.
Vers. 7. the Pherezite] that is, Pherezites; as Gen. 12. 6. But of these wee heard no mention before: it seemeth they were some family of the Canaanites, Gen. 10. 18. for they dwelt with the Canaanites in that part of the country which after fell to the tribe of Iudah, Iudg. 1. 3. 4. 5.
Vers. 8. and betweene my heardraen] that is, or betweene my heardmen: as hee that curseth his father and his mother, Exod. 21. 17. that is, his father or his mother, Mat. 15. 4. So, and the sonne of man, Psalm. 8. 5. that is, or the sonne of man, as it is alledged in Heb. 2. 6. men brethren] that is, brethren in faith, as Mat. 23. 8. and naturall kinsmen: for Abram was Lots uncle, Gen. 12. 5. So Christs kinsmen, were called his brethren, 1 Cor. 9. 5. The word men, may be omitted, as sometime the text it selfe doth: shooters men with bow, 1 Sam. 31. 3. that is, shooters with bow, 1 Chron. 10. 3. So, a man a Prince, Exod. 2. 14. is in Greeke but a Prince, Act. 7. 27. man of his counsel, Esay 40. 13. that is, his counsellor, 1 Cor. 2. 16. Although the Greeke often keepeth this Hebraisme, as an enemy man, Mat. 13. 28. men sinners, Luke 24. 7. Men brethren, Act. 1. 16. and 2. 29. 37. See also Gen. 38. 1.
Vers. 9. Is not all?] that is, Loe surely it is. A question earnestly affirrueth: as, is it not written? Mar. 11. 17. for, it is written, Mat. 21. 13. doe ye not erre? Mark. 12. 24. for, ye doe erre, Mat. 22. 29. and sundry the like. See Gen. 4. 7. before thee] at thy pleasure, to choose, by my permission. So the Lord set the land before the Israelites, Deut. 1. 21. The like is in Gen. 20. 15. and 34. 10. if thou wilt take] or wilt choose. These words are to bee understood from the next speech, or from the 11. vers. And Lot chose, &c. Oftentimes words wanting are to be supplied: as, I with Scorpions, 2 Chron. 10. 11. for, I will chastise you with Scorpions, 1 King. 12. 11. Against three hundred, 2 Sam. 23. 8. for, he lift up his speare against three hundred, 1 Chron. 11. 11. and many such like. See Gen. 11. 4. Thus Abram for peace, parted with his right: choosing rather to take wrong, then to contend, as 1 Cor. 6. 7.
Vers. 10. lifted up his eyes] that is, looked round about▪ to view the land, as is after manifest by the like speech to Abram, vers. 14. and where one Evangelist saith, lifting up their eyes, Mar. 17. 8. another writing of the same, saith, looking round about, Mar. 9. 8. Iordan] Hebr. Iarden, the name of a goodly river: see Ios. 3. 11. &c. well watered] Heb. …tering; that is, as the Chaldee saith, a place of water, or of moisture: thereby signifying a fruitfull land; as Psal 66. 12. and 107. 33. 35. destroyed] or corrupted; as Gen. 6. 13. and 19. 24. Sodom is in Hebrew Sedom; and Gomorrha, Ghnamorah: but we follow the plaine writing in the new Testament, 2 Pet. 2. 6. garden] that is, as the Greeke saith, Paradise: see Gen. 2. 8. and Ezek. 36. 35. meaning most pleasant and fruitfull, as Eden and Aegypt. commest] Hebr. thou comming to Zoar, or to Zogar: that is, all the plaine of Iordan, even to Zoar, the little City called before Bela: see Gen. 19. 20. 21. 22. and 14. 2.
Vers. 11. the plaine] or, the country about Iordan, as the Greeke translateth, which words the holy Ghost useth in Luke 3. 3. the Chaldee translateth it a plaine: and it is opposed to the mountaine, Gen. 19. 17. each man, &c.] that is, one from another.
Vers. 12. pitched tent] that is, removed his tents from place to place, till hee came even to Sodom: and as the Greeke saith, dwelt in tents in Sodom.
Vers. 13. sinners to Iehovah] that is, before the Lord, (as the Greeke translateth) and aganst him, as 1 Sam. 2. 25. meaning, very grievous and open sinners. And here the Sodomites are the first in the world openly called sinners: and although by Adams disobedience we all are made sinners, Rom. 5. 19. yet usually such as are notorious wicked ones, have this title given them; as in 1 Sam. 15. 18. Psal. 104. 36. Marke 14. 41. 1 Tim. 1. 9. The Chaldee paraphrast translateth, they were unrighteous with their riches, and sinners with their bodies before the Lord: agreeable to other Scriptures, which testifie how they defiled their bodies, Gen. 19. 5. and that, pride, fulnesse of bread, and abundance of idlenesse, was in Sodom, they strengthned not the hand of the poore, but were haughty, and committed abomination before the Lord, Ezek. 16. 49. 50. The Hebrew Doctors, from the two words here used, of Sodoms sinfull state, doe gather their condemnation both in this world, and in the world to come, Thalmud in Sanhedr. chap. Chelek See the notes on Gen. 19. 24
Vers. 14. to the sea] that is, the west: see Gen. 12. 8. Abram vieweth the land, but possesseth it not: so did Moses, Deut. 34. 1. 4.
Vers. 15. to thee] God gave Abram no inheritance in the land, no not the bredth of a foot: yet hee promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet hee had no child, Acts 7. 5. By faith hee sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country; for he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Heb. 11. 9. 10. and to thy seed] this may be an interpretation of the former, to thee, that is to thy seed: for the word and, sometime meaneth, that is, or even: as 1 Chron 21. 12. three dayes the Lords sword, and the pestilence, for, that is to say the pestilence: it expoundeth the former; therefore in 2 Sam. 24. 13. is written onelyonly, three dayes pestilence. So in 2 Sam. 17. 12. of him and of all (for that is of all) the men that are with him: thy seed] thy posterity. But as the earthly country figured an heavenly, Heb. 11. 16. so Abrams seed were some after the flesh; and some by promise, Galat. 4. 22. 23. neither because they are the seed of Abram, are they all children, Rom. 9. 7. The chiefest intended in this promise, is Christ, then with him, all Christians, Iewes, and Gentiles, Gal. 3. 16. 26. 28. 29. See before, Gen. 12. 7. for ever] or, unto eternity. Yet they possessed it but a little while, Esay 63. 18. For upon transgression they were threatned to be scattered among the heathens, their land to be wast, and their Cities desolate, Lev. 26. 33. and that the land should spue them out, if they defiled it, Lev. 18. 28. as came to passe, 2 King. 17. but the true seed, which are Gods elect, doe inherit it, and his servants dwell there, Esay 65. 9. Psal. 69. 36. 37. and 102. 29. These promises are spirituall, and to be referred unto the just and meeke, put in possession by Christ, Psal. 37. 29. Mat. 5. 5. Gal. 3. 29. But unto the wicked saith God, ye lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood, and shall ye possesse the land? ye worke abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbours wife: and shall ye possesse the land? Ezek. 33. 24. 25. 26.
Vers. 16. will put] that is, will make: as the Greek translateth it. if a man] This sheweth the comparison not to be absolute for equality of number, but in respect of men, to whom Abrams children are infinite, as the dust. See after in Gen. 15. 5.
Vers. 17. in the length] This survey was to strengthen Abrams faith; who under this earthly land, did view an heavenly, Heb. 11. 10. 16. that he might be able to comprehend the length and bredth, and depth and height, and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; Ephes. 3. 18. 19.
Vers. 18. in the okes] that is, the oke grove, or plain: see Gen. 12. 6. Mamree] in Greeke Mambree: a man of the Amorites then living, with whom Abram made league, Gen. 14. 13. One of the chiefe Sorcerers of Aegypt, was called by the like name. See the notes on Exod. 7. 11. Chebron] or Hebron, (the Greeke writeth it Chebrom, as Esron, Gen. 46. 12. is written Esrom, Mat. 1. 3.) It had this name afterward: for before it was called the City of Arba, Gen. 23. 2. and 25. 27. which Arba was a great man among the Anakims, and a father of them, Ios. 14. 15. and 15. 13. It became a place of buriall for many worthy persons, Gen. 23. 2. 19. and 49. 3 1 it was sometime possessed by Giants, whom Caleb drove out, Num. 13. 23. Ios. 15. 14. It was given to Caleb for an inheritance, Ios. 14. 14. was made a City of refuge, and given for the Levites to dwell in, Ios. 20. 7. and 21. 11. 12. In it David first reigned over Gods people, a Sam. 2. 1. 11. and to it came Ma…y to visit Elisabeth, Luke 1. 39. an Altar] to sacrifice thankfully unto God, and to sanctifie his viewed heritage▪ See Gen. 12. 7.