The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 3 · Section 3
SECT. III.
UPon this Abram with Sarai his Wife and Lot his Nephew return again into the Southern parts of Canaan; And here let us obſerve the wonderful and gracious Providence of God to Abram. Abram intended by going down into Egypt only to keep himſelf from ſtarving, but behold he Returns very rich in Cattel, and Silver, and Gold; ſo early did he experience the truth of Gods Promiſe to him. Being entred now again into Canaan, he marches on to the Place between Bethel and Ai, where before he had pitched his Tent, and had built an Altar, and there again called upon the Name of the Lord. And Lot alſo (who had ſtill accompanied him) being now returned into Canaan, was very rich in Cattel, ſo that they wanted Paſture and Water for ſo many Herds and Flocks as they had between them. And thence aroſe a ſtrife and quarrelling (as is uſual in ſuch caſes) among their Herdſmen about Paſtures and Water. And they were the more ſtraitned, becauſe the Canaanites and Perizzites that dwelt thereabout had taken up the greateſt and beſt part of the Paſture for their own Cattel. This matter being like to make a difference between them, Abram though the Ʋncle and Superiour, yet amicably ſpake to Lot, deſiring him there might be no ſtrife between them, for they were Brethren; and that not only after the Fleſh (He being the Uncle, and Lot his Nephew) but after the Spirit, they both ſincerely ſerving one and the ſame true God. And 'tis like He ſet before Him how by ſuch a contention they might give ſcandal to the Neighbouring Canaanites, and draw a Reproach upon the true Worſhip of God, and their own Profeſſion. Upon all which conſiderations Abram repreſents to him that he judged it convenient they ſhould now ſeparate one from the other, and offers him his choice, whither he would go to the right hand or to the left. Not that Abram could give to Lot any title to the Land at that time, (For he himſelf had not then ſo much as to ſet his foot on, Acts 7.5. and was afterwards forced to buy a Burying-place for his Family, Ch. 21.11.) But he deſires Lot to chuſe which quarter he pleaſed, upon ſuppoſition that he could obtain the uſe of it upon fair and reaſonable terms, and with the conſent of the Canaanites. Then Lot taking notice, and obſerving that all the plain of Jordan, even unto Zoar was exceeding fruitful, pleaſant, and well-watered, even like to Paradiſe, and to Egypt, (which by the overflowing of Nilus was ever eſteemed a fruitful Countrey.) He choſe that place, and marching thither, pitched his Tent near Sodom. But thinking poſſibly to find the Place a Paradiſe he found it a Hell; For the Sodomites were abominable Sinners before the Lord, ſee Ezek. 16.49, 50. Abram being now left alone with his Family, the Lord appeared to him, and comforted him, and gave him a new Promiſe of that Land to him and his Seed for ever. Now as the Heavenly Canaan is hereby typified, ſo that clauſe for ever will be verified to the true ſeed of Abraham, by whom it will be poſſeſſed for ever and ever. But as the Promiſe has reſpect to that Canaan which Abram now beheld with his eyes, ſo it is promiſed to the Iſraelites conditionally, *Or [for ever] may be thus underſtood, viz. to the coming of the Meſſiah, where the promiſes of the Old Teſtament end. Chriſt bringing in a new Age, and beginning a date of new Bleſſings to the faithful Children of Abram, uſque in ſeculum.] Semini quidem Carnali quamdiu durabit politia Moſaica, videlicet uſque ad Chriſti exhibitionem, Piſc. vel quamdiu durabit reſpublica Hebraeorum. Vox Olim non ſignificat hic abſolutam aeternitatem ſed longum tempus, ſoll. uſque ad adventum Meſſiae. Et haec promiſſio erat limitata, ſi Deo obtemperarent. Ceſſante conditione ceſſat res ipſa. Ipſi prius renunciaverunt. Deus quod Juſtitia ejus imparubat, fecit. See Sect. 7. Note (o).provided they did obey and keep the Covenant God made with them, but if they did degenerate, and proved an unfaithful Seed, then he would be no longer tied to his Promiſe, ſee Deut. 4.25, 26. Levit. 26.27, 32, 33. Ezek. 33.25, 26. Levit. 18.28. God alſo further promiſes Abram that He will multiply his Seed as the duſt of the Earth, which may be underſtood both of the Children of his Body, and of his Faith. After this Abram went and dwelt in the plain of Mamre near unto Hebron, where he built an Altar unto the Lord, to Sacrifice thankfully to God for all his Mercies to Him.
Gen. 13. whole Chapter.