Westminster Annotations, Genesis · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Vers. 1. VVEnt up] Canaan was higher then Egypt; and the situation of Egypt being lower, was the fitter to be made fruitfull by the overflowing of Nilus.
into the South] That is, the Southerne part of Canaan, Chap. 12. vers. 9. (from whence he went into Egypt) for otherwise the whole Countrey of Canaan, in respect of Egypt, is situated Northward.
V. 2. very rich] Great riches, and great goodnesse may meet together in one man, Job 1. 1. 3.
V. 3. Bethel] The place is here called by that name, which it had long before Moses time, though not at this time, when Abram travelled towards it. See Annot. on Chap. 12. vers. 8.
V. 4. * place of the Altar] * Chap. 12. 7.
V. 6. to beare them] They wanted convenient space for distinction and pasture of their flocks; the Canaanites an harsh natured people having possession of the Land, so that they could not be well accommodated for their company and estates neere together.
not dwell together] Though men account that happinesse consists in riches, there is this unhappinesse in them, that they doe not onelyonly separate men from friendly societie, but often times are occasions of contention betweene them.
V. 7. a strife betweene] Good, and quiet masters may have contentious servants, therefore the one must not be condemned for the other.
the Canaanite, and the Perizzite] For Canaanites and Perizzites, as Chap. 12. 6. and Angel for Angels, Psal. 34. 7. and …o (as divers learned Divines expound) Revel. 2. vers. 8. 12. 18. & Chap. 3. vers. 1. 7. 14. and Inhabitant for Inhabitants, 2 Sam. 5. 6. Quaile for Quailes, Psal. 105. 40. Frog for Frogs, Psal. 78. 45. Tre… for Trees, Psal. 105. 33. And the Perrizzites dwelling in the Land of Canaan were Canaanites, but upon some especiall reason, they had an especiall name given them by which they were distinguished from the rest of the Canaanites▪ and among them that dwelt in the Land, some might have the name of Canaanites by an eminence and more ordinary use: See Annot. on Chap. 15. vers. 21. So names are sometimes of a more large, and sometimes of a more strict acception: See the Note on Chap. 11. vers. 31. Now their dwelling in the Land is brought in by occasion of the dissention betwixt the Herd-men of Abram and Lot, because the Land was so populous by the number of these Inhabitants, that there could not be allowed roome sufficient for the increase of their cattell, which might be a cause of future contention more then at the present betwixt the emulous servants of their amicable masters; and quarrels betwixt two such worthy persons would be very scan…alous before such Infidel Idolaters as the Canaanites and Perizzites were.
V. 8. Abram said to Lot] Abram the elder, and the worthier person, both in respect of Grace, and of Nature also, (for he was Uncle unto Lot) craves peace of his inferiour. It is no disparagement to be the first in seeking reconcilement, for so was God in atonement with man, Isa. 65. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 20.
brethren] That is, neere kins-men, of the same flesh and bloud, Rom. 9. 3. Or, brethren of the same beliefe, and profession of Religion; otherwise in proprietie of speech, Abram was not his brother but his uncle, for Lot was his brothers son, Gen, 12. 5. See Annot. on Chap. 14. vers. 14.
V. 9. If thou wilt take] Abram resigneth his owne right to buy peace; yet he was not possessed of a foote of the Land of Canaan, Act. 7. 5. as his owne right, and by vertue of promise; therefore what he injoyed there, it was either by the presupposed, or purchased consent of the Canaanites, to whom he might make himselfe acceptable both by his great wisdome, goodnesse, riches, and beneficence. See his carriage toward, and acceptation with Ephron, and the children of Heth; of whom he would not take so much as a buriall place, but he would pay the worth of it, Gen. 23. vers. 11, 12, 13. And for Lot, Abram gave him no title to the Land, but such an use of it, as upon faire, and reasonable t…rm…s he might obtaine and enjoy.
left hand] By the left hand, some Expositors conceive he understood the North, and by the right, the South; and this according to the Chaldee; which presupposeth an usuall phrase of locall distinction among the Hebrews: the Philosophers since Aristotle make the East to be the right hand, and the We…t the left.
V. 10. as the gard…n of the Lord] So are things called that are eminently great and goodly, as the Host of God, 1 Chron. 12. 22. the Citie of God, Psal. 46. 4. the Cedars of God, Psal. 80. 10. See Annot. on Chap. 23. 6. & Chap. 30. 8. and so it may be in this place. Or it may be a particular comparison with the Garden of Eden, Gen. 2. 10. See Isa. 51. 3. Ezek. 28. 13. & Chap. 31. 8.
land of Egypt] Made fruitfull by the overflowings of the River Nilus, especially that part of the Land, in the plaine of Jordan, which is the way from Bethel to the little City, afterwards called Z…ar, but in former time, and at this time Bela, Chap. 14. 2. Adricom. Delph. Theatr. terr. Sanct. in Trib. Judah. pag. 54.
V. 11. journeyed East] Or, East-ward, as Gen. 2. 8. From the East, so the Genev: and Arias Montan. but Bethel (where Abram and Lot were when they concluded to separate) was West-ward in respect of Sodome, whither Lot went, and going thither he went towards the East, not from the East, so it is better (as to the sense of the place) to read, Lot journeyed East, or, East-ward; which construction the Originall word here used will beare, as well as the other (from the East) and so it is taken, Gen. 2. 8. God planted a garden East-ward, in Eden.
one from the other] Which was done by Gods especiall providence, that onelyonly Abram and his seed might dwell in the Land of Canaan.
V. 13. the men of Sodome were wicked] Lot thinking to get Paradise, found Hell; the Land was very good, the Inhabitants extremely bad: they are called sinners before the Lord exceedingly, because their sinnes were such as drew his eye especially to be upon them, with a purpose to punish them: See Chap. 10. 9.
V. 14. Lift up now thine eyes] The Lord comforted him, lest he should have taken thought for the departure of his Nephew.
looke from the place] (Deut. 34. 1. Matth. 4. 8.) The promise was made for a larger compasse then the eye of man could particularly view; but God might supply that defect either by discoursing of the places in each tract, East, West, North, and South, as Abram had his prospect; or by some other revelation, or repr…sentation, as himselfe thought fittest to make him apprehensive of his liberall promise. The Devil did something in this kind, Matth. 4. 8. & Luk. 4. 5. by Gods permission: but God doubtlesse had a better, and a clearer way to manifest the compasse of his bounty unto Abram. Though Abram himselfe were not actually possessed of the Land of Canaan, as in his owne right; (whereof see the Annot. on vers. 9.) yet is the promise made to him, because of Gods especiall favor to him, for whose sake he was so graciously affected to his posteritie, in whom their progenitours are blessed in a joyfull apprehension, that they shall be blessed, as in good-will to them, and for their sakes: See the Annot. on Chap. 9▪ 25.
V. 15. and to thy seed] (Chap. 12. 7. & 26. 4. Deut. 34. 4) That is, to thy seed, and for thy sake.
for ever] Upon presupposall of their obedience, and keeping covenant with God, otherwise not, Levit. 18. 28. Deut. 4. 25, 26. Isa. 48. 18, 19. and to such as should prove faithfull in their adherence to God, here is a promise of an everlasting possession of the heavenly Canaan, whereof the earthly was a Type: And concerning temporall possession, the words for ever, reach to the coming of the Messiah, which is the period of such promises for the Old Testament, from thence begins a date of new blessings to the spirituall children of faithfull Abram, which will hold out untill they attaine an everlasting happinesse. Heb. 11. vers. 10.
V. 16. number the dust of the earth] That is, by way of comparison; for as no man can number the dust of the earth, Gen. 32. 12. the graines of it are so many; so the seed of Abram whether by the flesh, or faith of Abram (for they that beleeve as he did are his children) shall be so many, as that to men they shall be innumerable. See Heb. 11. 12. Rev. 7. 9.
V. 17. walke through] By this God doth not command Abram to make an exact surveigh of it, but offers unto his choyce the satisfaction of himselfe by his owne view of it.
the length and breadth] See the Annot. on vers. 14.
V. 18. plain of Mamre] Heb. plains. Or, the oake, or, gr…ve of oake of Memre: for the Hebrew word Elon, signifieth an oak: the Plaine it is like was set with oake trees, and it is called the plaine of Memre, from the man who either planted or possessed it, who was an Amorite dwelling in Hebron, Chap. 14. vers. 13. 24.
built an Altar] Abram is constant in his holy course of tru… Religion, still building an Altar, where he abode; not, as the Heathens, to many false gods, but to the one and only true God▪