Genesis 13:3-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 13:1-4

I. Here is Abram's return out of Egypt, Gen. 13:1. He came himself and brought all his with him back again to Canaan. Note, Though there may be occasion to go sometimes into places of temptation, yet we must hasten out of them as soon as possible. See Ruth 1:6. II. His wealth: He was very rich, Gen. 13:2. He was very heavy, so the Hebrew word signifies; for riches are a burden, and those that will be rich do but load themselves with thick clay, Hab. 2:6. There is a burden of care in getting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 13:3

And he went on in his journeys from the south ,.... He took the same tour, went the same road, stopping at the same resting places, as when he went down to Egypt; having learned, as Jarchi observes, the way of the earth, that a man should not change his host. Though some, as Ben Gersom, understand it of his taking his journeys as were suitable for his cattle, as they were able to bear them, and not overdrive them, lest he should kill them, but made short stages, and frequently stopped and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 13:4

Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first ,.... When he first came to that place, and before he went down to Egypt: it is not said he came to the altar, but "to the place", where it had stood, for it seems now to have been demolished, either having fallen of itself, being made of earth, or had been destroyed by the Canaanites, since Abram left it; or perhaps it might be pulled down by Abram himself before he went from thence, that it might not be used and polluted by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:3

Beth-el - See Genesis 8. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 13:3

Verse 3 3.And he went on his journeys. In these words Moses teaches us, that Abram did not rest till he had returned to Bethel. For although he pitched his tent in many places, yet he nowhere so fixed his foot, as to make it his permanent abode. He does not speak of the south in reference to Egypt; he merely means that he had come into the southern part of Judea; and that, therefore, he had, by a long and troublesome journey, arrived at the place where he had determined to remain. Moses next... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 13:1-13

The separation between Abram and Lot. Return to Bethel—to the altar. The circumstances of the patriarch were very different. He was very rich. Lot is with him, and the sojourn in Egypt had far more depraving effect upon his weaker character than upon that of his uncle. We should remember when we take the young into temptation that what may be comparatively harmless to us may be ruinous to them. The subsequent misery of Lot's career may be all traced to the sojourn in Egypt. I. The root... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 13:3-4

And he went on his journeys . Literally, in his journeyings or stations!cf. Genesis 11:2 ; Exodus 17:1 ; Numbers 10:6 , Numbers 10:12 ). The renderings καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὅθεν η}lqen ( LXX .) and reversus est per iter quo venerat (Vulgate) imply without warrant that he used the same camping grounds in his ascent which he had previously occupied in his descent. From the south even to Bethel (vide Genesis 12:8 ), unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 13:1-18

- 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 13:3

Genesis 13:3. He went on to Beth-el Because there he had formerly had an altar, and although the altar had fallen down, as being probably built of earth, or had been taken down by Abram, lest it should be polluted by the idolatrous Canaanites; yet he came to the place of the altar, either to revive the remembrance of the communion he had had with God at that place, or perhaps to pay the vows he had there made to God, when he undertook his journey into Egypt. And there Abram, prevented by... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 13:1-18

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