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Genesis xiii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver 1. South. With respect to Judea, which the sacred writers have always in view.
Ver. 2. Rich in possession. Hebrew may be "heavy laden with cattle, gold," &c. (Menochius)
Ver. 6. To bear or feed their flocks, as well as those of the Chanaanites. (Calmet)
Ver. 8. Abram therefore, for fear of raising a quarrel with the Pherezites also, who might complain
that these strangers were eating up what they had before taken possession of, suggests to his nephew the propriety of their
taking different courses. Being the older, he divides, and the younger chooses, according to an ancient and laudable custom.
(St. Augustine, City of God xvi. 20.)
Ver. 11. From the east of Pentapolis to Sodom, (Menochius) or to the east of the place where Abram
was, as Onkelos has it. The Hebrew may signify either. (Grotius.)
Ver. 13. Sinners before, &c. That is truly, without restraint or disguise. Lot might not have
been acquainted with their dissolute morals, when he made this choice; in which however he consulted only his senses, and
looked for temporal advantages, which ended in sorrow. This God permitted for a warning to us; and to restrain the Sodomites,
by the example of Lot's justice, contrasted with their abominable lives. (Haydock) --- Ezechiel xvi. 49, explains the causes
of their wickedness.
Ver. 15. And to: This is by way of explanation to the former words: (Haydock) for Abram never possessed
a foot of this land by inheritance, Acts viii.[vii.?] 5. Even his posterity never enjoyed it, at least, for any long time.
St. Augustine gives the reason; because the promise was conditional, and the Jews did not fulfil their part by obedience and
fidelity. (q. 31. in Gen.) It is better, however, to understand these promises of another land, which the people, who imitate
the faith of Abram, shall enjoy in the world to come. (Calmet) (Romans iv. 16.)
Ver. 16. As the dust, an hyperbole, to express a very numerous offspring, which is more exact,
if we take in the spiritual children of Abram. (Menochius)
Ver. 17. Through. Lot has chosen a part, I give the whole to thee. Thou mayest take possession
of it, and go wherever thou hast a mind. (Calmet)
Ver. 18. Vale, or grove of oaks, where there was a famous one which was called the oak of
Mambre, either from the neighbouring city, or from a man of that name, chap. xiv. 13. (Menochius) --- Hebron was on the hill
above. (Calmet)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
Abram and Lot part from each other. God's promise to Abram.
1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had,
and Lot with him into the south.
2 And he was very rich in possession of gold and silver.
3 And he returned by the way, that he came, from the south to Bethel, to
the place where before he had pitched his tent between Bethel and Hai,
4 *In the place of the altar which he had made before, and there he called
upon the name of the Lord.
5 But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and herds of beasts,
and tents.
6 Neither was the land able to bear them, that they might dwell together:*
for their substance was great, and they could not dwell together.
7 Whereupon also there arose a strife between the herdsmen of Abram and
of Lot. And at that time the Chanaanite and the Pherezite dwelled in that country.
8 Abram therefore said to Lot: Let there be no quarrel, I beseech thee,
between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen: for we are brethren.
9 Behold the whole land is before thee: depart from me, I pray thee: if
thou wilt go to the left hand, I will take the right: if thou choose the right hand, I will pass to the left.
10 And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the Jordan, which
was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes
to Segor.
11 And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed
from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: and Lot abode in the towns, that
were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom.
13 And the men of Sodom were very wicked, and sinners before the face of
the Lord beyond measure.
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him: *Lift
up thy eyes, and look from the place wherein thou now art, to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west.
15 All the land which thou seest, I will give to thee, and to thy seed
for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: if any man be able
to number the dust of the earth, he shall be able to number thy seed also.
17 Arise and walk through the land in the length, and in the breadth thereof:
for I will give it to thee.
18 So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of Mambre, which
is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to the Lord.
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*
4: Genesis xii. 7.
6: Genesis xxxvi. 7.
14: Genesis xii. 7. and xv. 18. and xxvi. 4.; Deuteronomy xxxiv. 4.
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