Genesis 13)
1 And Abram went up out of Egypt (Palestine an ascent up from Egypt), he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. (The Negeb South of Judea, North from Egypt)
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold (scarce in Palestine, but plentiful in Egypt).
3 And He went on his journey from the south even to Beth-el, to the place where his tent (shows him to be a stranger) had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai; (Very significant. No altar for Abram in Egypt)
4 To the place of the altar (shows him to be a worshiper), which he had made there at the first (no worship in Egypt): and there Abram called on the name of the Lord (Yahaveh).
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents (tents put for dwellers therein).
6 And the land was not able to bear them (= those two, implies opposition, biblical numerics), that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was strife (the first step in Lot's downward course. Note Lot's 6 downward steps "strife", "beheld", "chose", "pitched toward", "dwelt in", "sat in its gate", as a ruler and citizen) between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle: {and the Canaanite and the Perizite were dwelling already in the land}. (Occupying it in advance, and spreading later to the giant cities of Bashan. These were the Nephilim [abominations].)
8 And Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we be brethren (= relatives).
9 Is not the whole land before you? separate yourself, I pray you, from me: if you will go to the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left."
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where (great contrast with Palestine after the famine; and likeness to the fertility of Egypt), before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you come to Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan (Lot lifted up his own eyes, and made his own choice); and Lot journeyed east (=to the left. Could it be left evil, right good?); and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in among the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent
toward Sodom.
13 {But the men of Sodom were very wicked sinners before the Lord exceedingly.}
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was separated
from him. "Lift up now your eyes (God chose for Abraham: strictly topographical) and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: (Note Abraham's 4 looks, 13:14 [earth]; 15:15 [heaven]; 18:2 [Yahaveh]; 22:13 [a substitute].)
15 For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever. (Hence Israel is "the everlasting nation". "To you" ensures resurrection.)
16 And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you."
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain (= among the oaks belonging to Mamre [= strength, fatness], brother of Eschol and Abner), which is in Hebron (= alliance), and built there an altar to the Lord.