Gen. 13 Abram returns from Egypt to Canaan with Lot, Gen. 13:1. He comes to Beth-el; calls on the Lord, Gen. 13:3–4. Abram and Lot being both very rich are obliged to part. Lot goes to Sodom, Gen. 13:5–12. The men of Sodom exceeding wicked, Gen. 13:13.

i.e. Into the southern part of Canaan, from whence he came, Gen. 12:9, and which in Scripture is called simply the south, Josh. 10:40, Josh. 11:16. Otherwise he went rather into the north: but the Scripture being written for the Jews, doth frequently accommodate the names of the quarters of the…

He went on his journey, or rather, according to his journeys, which he took as he came, going in the same road, and resting in the same place, of which he had experience.

Unto the place of the altar, i.e. where the altar was; for the altar itself was either fallen down, as being probably built of earth, as afterwards, Ex. 20:24, or overthrown by the wicked Canaanites. He worshipped God by prayer, and preaching to his family, Gen. 18:19, and offering sacrifices.

The Canaanite, i.e. the Canaanites, as Gen. 12:6, the singular number for the plural, as Ps. 78:45, Ps. 105:33, Ps. 105:40. Dwelled then in the land, i.e.

Abram said unto Lot. The elder, and wiser, and worthier person relinquisheth his own right to his inferior for peace sake, leaving us a noble example for our imitation. Between me and thee, and between; or, or between, & c., and for or, as Ex. 21:17, Ps. 8:4, compared with Matt. 15:14, Heb.

Is not the whole land before thee? i.e. open to thy view, and free to choose which part thou pleasest, as thou canst agree with the owners: I give thee full power to choose before me. See a like phrase, Gen. 20:15, Gen. 34:10, Gen. 34:21, Gen. 47:6.

The plain of Jordan, a great plain so called, because there the pleasant river Jordan divided itself into divers little streams or rivulets, which having no visible outlet into the sea, by degrees, and in several places, insinuated themselves into the earth, which made it very fruitful and…

Lot journeyed east; Heb. from the east, or eastward, as the Hebrew particle min is sometimes used: see Gen. 2:8, 2 Sam. 2:2, compared with 1 Chron. 13:6.

Eminent, noted, and impudent sinners; see Gen. 18:20, Ezek. 16:49; which is here added as a secret reproof to Lot, who was either careless in his inquiry into the dispositions and manners of those among whom he intended to fix his abode, which for many reasons he should have searched out; or he was…

The Lord said this unto Abram, to comfort him now when he was alone, and in a worse soil than Lot had chosen.

Object. Abram could see but a little part of the land. Answ. 1. He might now possibly be upon a mountain, from whence he might have a large prospect every way. 2.

Mamre was an Amorite of great note, from whom the city Hebron was called Mamre, Gen. 23:19, a friend and confederate of Abram, Gen. 14:13, by whom it is thought he was brought to the knowledge and worship of the true God. In Hebron; or, near Hebron; for so the Hebrew Beth is sometimes taken.