Genesis 13

Genesis 13

1. Genesis 13:1–2 (KJV) – “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.”
   • (possible) Abram’s return from Egypt with wealth foreshadows Israel’s later exodus, when they came out with great possessions, and ultimately Christ’s greater deliverance, in which His people inherit spiritual riches.
   • Cross-references: Exodus 12:35–36; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 1:18.
2. Genesis 13:3–4 (KJV) – “And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.”
   • Abram’s return to the altar shows renewal of worship and fellowship with God, pointing to Christ as the true way of access to God.
   • Cross-references: Hebrews 10:19–22; John 14:6.
3. Genesis 13:5–9 (KJV) – “And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
   • Abram’s peace-seeking attitude foreshadows Christ, the Prince of Peace, who gave up His own rights for the sake of others.
   • Cross-references: Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5–7; Romans 14:19.
4. Genesis 13:10–13 (KJV) – “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”
   • (possible) Lot’s choice of the well-watered plain resembles mankind’s tendency to choose by sight rather than faith. Abram’s portion in Canaan aligns with Christ’s inheritance of the promised land by faith and obedience.
   • Cross-references: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:9–10; Matthew 5:5.
5. Genesis 13:14–17 (KJV) – “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”
   • The promise of innumerable seed and the land given to Abram points to Christ, the true Seed, in whom the promises are fulfilled and through whom a great multitude is gathered.
   • Cross-references: Galatians 3:16, 29; Revelation 7:9; Hebrews 11:16.
6. Genesis 13:18 (KJV) – “Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.”
   • Again, Abram builds an altar, foreshadowing Christ as the true altar and mediator, and pointing forward to the communion believers have in Him.
   • Cross-references: Hebrews 13:10; John 4:23–24; Ephesians 2:18.

Genesis 13 Christ-Pointers (KJV)

1. Genesis 13:4 KJV: Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. Explanation: The LORD, as Christ, the divine Word (John 1:1-3), is the object of Abram’s worship at the altar, symbolizing Christ’s role as the mediator of worship and sacrifice. Abram’s calling on the LORD prefigures believers’ worship of Christ, who is the ultimate altar and sacrifice for redemption. Conservative scholarship sees such acts of worship as directed to Christ in His preincarnate role. Cross-references: Hebrews 13:10 (“We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle”), John 1:14 (“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”), Philippians 2:9-11 (every knee bowing to Christ’s name), Psalm 116:17 (calling on the LORD’s name).
2. Genesis 13:10-13 (possible) KJV: And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Explanation: The reference to “the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah” and “sinners before the LORD” possibly points to Christ, the divine Word, as the judge of the wicked, foreshadowing His role in final judgment. The contrast between Abram’s faithfulness in Canaan and Lot’s choice of Sodom prefigures the separation of the righteous through Christ’s redemptive work. This is less certain, as the LORD’s action is mentioned in passing. Cross-references: Revelation 19:15 (Christ judging with wrath), John 5:22 (“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son”), 2 Peter 2:6-9 (Sodom’s destruction as an example), Genesis 19:24 (the LORD’s judgment on Sodom).
3. Genesis 13:14-17 KJV: And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Explanation: The LORD, as Christ, the divine Word, renews the promise of land and seed to Abram, with the seed being Christ Himself. This covenant points to Christ’s redemptive work, through which all nations are blessed, and the eternal land promise prefigures the kingdom of God. Conservative scholars identify Christ as the covenant initiator and the true seed. Cross-references: Galatians 3:16 (“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made… which is Christ”), Hebrews 11:16 (Abraham looking for a heavenly city), Romans 4:13 (promise to Abraham through faith), Genesis 12:7 (earlier land promise).
4. Genesis 13:18 KJV: Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. Explanation: The LORD, as Christ, the divine Word, is again the focus of Abram’s worship through the altar, symbolizing Christ as the mediator of worship and the ultimate sacrifice. The altar in Mamre foreshadows Christ’s redemptive work, enabling communion with God. Cross-references: Hebrews 7:25 (Christ interceding for us), John 1:18 (“…the only begotten Son… hath declared him”), 1 Timothy 2:5 (Christ as mediator), Psalm 99:6 (calling on the LORD).