And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth . "As the land shall be great for thy people, thy posterity, so thy people shall be great or innumerable for the land" (Lunge). Afterwards the seed of Abram is likened to the stars of heaven for multitude ( Genesis 15:5 ). So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. read more
Arise . According to a common mode of Oriental speech, pleonastically affixed to verbs of going, going forward, and of setting about anything with impulse. Walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it. To be understood not as a literal direction, but as an intimation that he might leisurely survey his inheritance with the calm assurance that it was his. For I will give it unto thee. read more
- Abram and Lot Separate7. פרזי perı̂zı̂y, Perizzi, “descendant of Paraz.” פרז pārāz, “leader,” or inhabitant of the plain or open country.10. ככר kı̂kar, “circle, border, vale, cake, talent;” related: “bow, bend, go round, dance.” ירדן yardēn, Jardan, “descending.” Usually with the article in prose. צער tso‛ar, Tso‘ar, “smallness.”18. ממרא mamrē', Mamre, “fat, strong, ruler.” חברון chebrôn, Chebron, “conjunction, confederacy.”Lot has been hitherto kept in association with Abram by the... read more
Genesis 13:16. I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth That is, they shall increase incredibly, and, take them all together, shall be such a multitude as no man can number. When Moses wrote this history, these predictions had been in some measure fulfilled. But the increase of Abram’s seed at that time bore no proportion to what it was in the days of Solomon, when Israel and Judah, without taking his descendants by Ishmael, Esau, and the children he had by his second wife Keturah,... read more
Genesis 13:17-18 . Arise, walk through the land Enter and take possession, for thy posterity; survey the parcels, and it will appear better than upon a distant prospect. Abram himself, however, was not to think of fixing in it, but expect to be always unsettled, and walking through it to a better Canaan: and in compliance with God’s will herein, “he removed his tent,” conforming to the condition of a pilgrim. And he built there an altar In token of his thankfulness to God for the kind... read more
Journey to Egypt and return (12:10-13:18)A long drought in Canaan must have caused Abram to wonder just how reliable this promised land was. In the end he journeyed to Egypt in search of better pastures (10).Fearing that the Egyptians would kill him in order to take his beautiful wife, he preserved himself by saying she was his sister. This was half true, because Sarai was a daughter of Terah by another wife (see 20:12); but Abram and Sarai did wrong in telling only half the truth in order to... read more
look. Note Abraham's four "looks": Genesis 13:14 (earth); Genesis 15:5 (heaven); Genesis 18:2 (Jehovah); Genesis 22:13 (a substitute). read more
to thee. Repeated to Isaac (Genesis 26:3 ), and to Jacob (Genesis 28:13 ; Genesis 35:12 ). See note on Genesis 50:24 . for ever. Hence Israel is "the everlasting nation", Isaiah 44:7 . "To thee" ensures resurrection. Compare Matthew 22:23-33 . read more
dust. Figure of speech Paroemia. In Genesis 15:5 , as the "stars", marking the two parties in Israel: the earthly and heavenly (Hebrews 11:9-16 ); partakers of "the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1 ). read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 13:14-18
Magnanimity rewarded, or Divine compensations. I. A REVELATION GIVEN . Immediately on Lot's departure Jehovah approaches, the appearance of the heavenly Friend compensating for the loss of the earthly kinsman, as often happens in the Divine dealings with men and saints. The revelation now afforded to the patriarch was— 1. Personal . Essentially a self-revealing God, only through the medium of a person can Jehovah give a full and clear unveilment of himself. Of this... read more