Gênesis 13
Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gênesis 13
Utley - In the Ancient Near East there were several ways of accumulating and retaining wealth - precious metals, jewels, clothing, food stuffs, livestock U. Cassuto sees a parallel with Ge 12:10 and the statement "Now Abram was very RICH [כָּבֵד kābhēd] in cattle, in silver, and in gold. The word כָּבֵד kābhēd [literally, ‘heavy’] is in antithetic parallelism to what is narrated at the commencement of the section (Ge 12:10: for the famine was SEVERE [כָּבֵד kābhēd]): then Abram suffered because the famine was כָּבֵד kābhēd [’heavy’, ‘severe’]’ now he is very כָּבֵד kābhēd [’heavy, ‘laden’, ‘rich’] with possessions. (BORROW A Commentary on the Book of Genesis, Vol. 2) Genesis 13:3 He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, from: Ge 12:6,8,9 Bethel and Ai: i.e., The place which was afterwards called Bethel by Jacob, and so called when Moses wrote; for its first name was Luz. (Ge 28:19.) Reciprocal: Genesis 13:1 - the south Genesis 35:1 - Bethel Leviticus 13:3 - deeper Hebrews 11:9 - dwelling Genesis 13 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passage: Genesis 28:19 He (JACOB) called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz. Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” Judges 1:23 The house of Joseph spied out Bethel (now the name of the city was formerly Luz). Hebrews 11:9+ By faith he (ABRAHAM) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; ABRAM RETRACES STEPS TO NEGEV - Click to enlarge - Holman Bible Atlas (digital book; Hardcover) Copyright © 1998 B&H Publishing. Used by permission. One of best resources for Bible maps. Please do not reproduce this map. ABRAM'S JOURNEY TAKES HIM BACK TO BETHEL He went on his journeys (massa) from the Negev (negeb; Lxx = eremos) as far as Bethel (“house of God”) - NLT = "Then they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel." The verb journeys (massa = pulling up, breaking up camp) describes Abram as picking up his tents and moving from camp to camp. Note that Bethel was originally called Luz, but here Moses uses the name Bethel which Jacob gave to Luz in Ge 28:19. BETHEL AND AI Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission To the place where his tent - Remember that Abram's tent was a picture of a man who was a pilgrim and a stranger, because "by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents...for he was looking (ekdechomai picturesque progressive imperfect, his steady and patient waiting in spite of disappointment) for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Heb 11:9,10+). He could have afforded a fortress but he was satisfied with a tent. Am I? Are you? 🙏 THOUGHT - Abraham's theme song was "This World is Not My Home (play - or play "Not Home Yet")." Is this your "theme song" dear disciple of Christ? Can you sing it with sincerity and gusto? If not, you need to learn the words, so that you too can live (and sing) like Abraham, as alien, as in a foreign land, for we are to be IN the world but not OF the world, beloved (Jn 17:14, 15, 16, cf Col 3:2-4+). I am a retired physician in my 70's and have 2 close physician friends also in their 70's who are retired and both are building new, expensive vacation homes far away from their hometown of Austin, Texas. One is a non-believer with whom I have shared Christ (but we have not seen the end of his story yet I pray), so this just might be the best home away from home he will ever experience. The other is a believer, perhaps a little like Lot, but a righteous man by faith (cf 2Pe 2:7+). Sadly, he is storing up for himself treasure on earth and not in heaven, for at age 77 he does not have that long to enjoy his new vacation home. I do not mean to be critical, but mention these two men to illustrate how tempting it is for all of us to store up for ourselves treasures on earth and forget that we are aliens and strangers (1Pe 1:1+, 1Pe 2:11+) who have the inestimably precious privilege of storing up for ourselves eternal treasure in heaven (Mt 6:20+, cf 1Pe 1:4-5+, 1Ti 4:8+). Where is your heart beloved? Is you treasure on earth or is it in heaven because that is the test? (see Mt 6:21+) Are you content with a "tent" now, knowing Jesus is preparing for you a "mansion" in heaven in the future (Jn 14:3+)? See also Vertical Vision. To the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai - Back to the beginning is the best place to go when you have disobeyed God. This reminds me of Jesus' words to the church at Ephesus when He declared "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent." (Rev 2:4-5+) Abram remembered Bethel ("house of God") and returned and in the following passages did the deeds we would expect from a man of faith. Far from removing Abram's lampstand, God lit is brightly it brightly and blessed him mightily. Abram is revered by 3 world religions - Christianity, Judaism and Muslims. 🙏 THOUGHT - Dearly beloved saint, have you disobeyed God's good and acceptable and perfect will for your life and willfully made a costly "trip to Egypt" (so to speak) like Abram did in Genesis 12? Most of us have at one time or another. But we too like Abram can return to where we departed from the highway of holiness. John assures us that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9+) Confess, repent (do a 180!), and return, for your Father is waiting to welcome you with open arms (cf prodigal - read Lk 15:20+) and will not turn you away. Back to Bethel
Gênesis 13
Utley - Rashi (a rabbi of the Middle Ages) says the land had trees like Eden and vegetables like Egypt. The irony is that as Eden was a place of judgment, so too, the Jordan Valley! This was before the LORD (Jehovah/ Yahweh; Lxx = theos) destroyed (shachath) Sodom and Gomorrah – NET, NIV and ESV put this phrase in parenthesis. Moses gives us a preview of "coming attractions," and the fate of Lot's bad choice! The Septuagint translates destroyed (shachath) with the verb katastrepho which means to completely overturn which is what God did to Sodom and Gomorrah. It is no surprise that the same Hebrew verb describes the pre-flood world as corrupt (shachath - Ge 6:11, 12+) which caused God to destroy the world (also shachath Ge 6:17; Ge 9:11,15+) with a flood. It is notable that both the flood and Sodom were obliterated by a divine catastrophe and only one family survived in each situation (Noah and Lot)! Like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar - The Valley of the Jordan was verdant and fertile and caught Job's eye, when he should have been looking toward God with the eyes of his heart. He had gone to Egypt with Abram in Genesis 12 and experienced a taste of the "good life," which colored his thinking and directed his choice of land! John Phillips is correct when he says "A man who is weak in his devotions and worldly in his desires will inevitably be wrong in his decisions." NET NOTE makes a great point commenting that "The narrative places emphasis on what Lot saw so that the reader can appreciate how it aroused his desire for the best land. It makes allusion to the garden of the LORD and to the land of Egypt for comparison. Just as the tree in the garden of Eden had awakened Eve’s desire, so the fertile valley attracted Lot. And just as certain memories of Egypt would cause the Israelites to want to turn back and abandon the trek to the promised land, so Lot headed for the good life. Bob Utley - Zoar is one city located in the Jordan Valley (cf. Ge 13:10), just south of the Dead Sea. The account of its name is found in Gen. 19:20-22, which is a word play on "small". It was an oasis (cf. Josephus, Jewish Wars 4.8.4). There are several cities located in this area: (1) Sodom; (2) Gomorrah; (3) Admah; (4) Zeboiim; and (5) Zoar/Bela. They were collectively called "the cities of the plain." All but Zoar were destroyed by God (cf. Deut. 29:23). Like the land of Egypt would prove to be a significant temptation to Israel even after they had been liberated from harsh Egyptian bondage (Oh, how easily and quickly they/we forget!) Exodus 16:3 The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Numbers 11:5 “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, Numbers 14:2-3 All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 🙏 THOUGHT - Do we lift our eyes and see sites "like the land of Egypt," which tempt us to return to the former bondage to sin, from which we have been liberated by crucifixion with Christ. Romans 6:6+ says "knowing this, that our old self (man) was crucified with Him (Christ), in order that our body of sin might be done away with (made ineffective), so that we would no longer be slaves to sin." Why would we ever want to go back to this harsh taskmaster which gives only corrupt wages? Destroyed (07843) shachath means to decay, to go to ruin, to corrupt, to destroy (Sodom and Gomorrah = Ge 13:10, Ge 18:28, 31-32), to lay waste (Egypt from swarms of flies - Ex 8:24). Shachath is used of Israelites who worshiped the golden calf (Ex 32:7; Dt 9:12; 32:5, Hos 9:9). God warned He would destroy Israel if they were turned away from following Him (Nu 32:15). Shachath describes Israel's behavior as more corrupt after a judge died (Jdg 2:19). Shachath in the Pentateuch - Gen. 6:11; Gen. 6:12; Gen. 6:13; Gen. 6:17; Gen. 9:11; Gen. 9:15; Gen. 13:10; Gen. 18:28; Gen. 18:31; Gen. 18:32; Gen. 19:13; Gen. 19:14; Gen. 19:29; Gen. 38:9; Exod. 8:24; Exod. 12:13; Exod. 12:23; Exod. 21:26; Exod. 32:7; Lev. 19:27; Num. 32:15; Deut. 4:16; Deut. 4:25; Deut. 4:31; Deut. 9:12; Deut. 9:26; Deut. 10:10; Deut. 20:19; Deut. 20:20; Deut. 31:29; Deut. 32:5 Katastrepho (2690)(3x in NT - Mt 21:12, Mk 11:15, Acts 15:16) means to cause to be overturned, turn upside down, upset, overturn something like the money-changers’ tables (Mt 21:12; Mk 11:15). It means to cause something to be in total disarray and so to destroy or ruin (Acts 15:16). To turn over, turn under: the soil with a plow. Used in Septuagint of Sodom and Gomorrah - Ge 13:10, Ge 19:21, Ge 25:29, Ge 29:22. Rod Mattoon - Like salt on ice, greed ate away at the character of Lot. It became a consuming passion in his life and led to his decision in the choosing the plains of Jordan. Greed says, "I can satisfy you and make you happy!" Later, we only find disappointment with greed's promises. Greed's icy fingers clutch like vulture claws at the hearts of others throughout Genesis. Greed in Wealth—Lot wanted the best land and Jacob wanted the birthright. Ge 13:10; 25:31 Greed for Wells—Gerar's herdsmen are greedy for the wells of Isaac. Ge 26:20 Greed in Wages—Laban removes all sheep of Jacob's description which were to be his wages. Ge 30:35 Greed in Worship—Rachel steals Laban's images. Ge 31:19 Greed for Wares—The men of Shechem are greedy for the wares of Jacob's people. Ge 34:23 Greed for Winnings or profits—Judah suggests selling Joseph as a slave. Ge 37:27 (Mattoon's Treasures from Genesis - hardbound copies are scarce - here is the very affordable digital version - this is an excellent resource for lay readers, Sunday School teachers, etc) W H Griffith Thomas - A Selfish Choice (Ge 13:10-13). Genesis 13:5-18 The Separation — Lot thereupon took the generous Abraham at his word, and, seeing that the plain of Jordan was 'well watered everywhere,' he chose that region, and departed thither. This was the sole reason that prompted his choice. He saw the great advantage to him and his possessions in that most fertile of regions. The land was indeed fertile, but as he 'moved his tent as far as Sodom' (Ge 13:12, R.V.) it soon became evident what danger he was in. The material blessing was accompanied by moral blight. There are many modern counterparts to Lot's action; even professedly Christian people often choose their home in a locality simply for its scenery, or its society, or its other material advantages without once inquiring what Church privileges are there. The souls of their children may starve amid worldliness and polite indifference. The same disastrous choice is often made in connection with public schools, to which boys are sent simply for the position and reputation of the school, regardless of the moral and spiritual atmosphere of the institution. This was the great mistake of Lot's life, from which he ever afterwards suffered. Genesis 13:11 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. chose: Ge 19:17 they: Ge 13:9,14 Ps 16:3 119:63 Pr 27:10 Heb 10:25 1Pe 2:17 Genesis 13 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries LOT CHOOSES AND SEPARATES So - Term of conclusion. Based on what Lot's eyes saw, he made his decision, one that would radically change his life. What should he have done? Given that we know men like Abram called on the Name of the LORD, it would have been wise for Lot to have done likewise. There is no evidence that this righteous man (2Pe 2:7+) sought the Righteous One (Isaiah 53:11+) in this crucial decision. 🙏 THOUGHT - Dear brother or sister in Christ, are you looking longingly (even lustfully) at some "lush valley" (so to speak), a new job, a new wife, a new husband, etc, etc? Dearly beloved, before you make the mistake Lot made by moving forward based on what his eyes saw, you would be wise to consult with the One Who knows the Beginning from the End (and everything in between)! You might just save yourself from some "brimstone and fire" (so to speak) in your life (cf Ge 19:24)! In any given situation, what you are determines what you see, and what you see determines what you do. -- Haddon Robinson Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward - Instead of staying in the promised land moving either to the north or south, effectively splitting the territory with Abram, Lot fell prey to the lust of his flesh and journeyed eastward toward the region of the Dead Sea.
Gênesis 13
Utley - Abram moved by revelation ("lift up your eyes," Qal IMPERATIVE; "look," , Qal IMPERATIVE); Lot by self-interest (cf. Gen. 13:10). NET NOTE The repetition of the expression (Heb “lift up the eyes”) here underscores how the LORD will have the last word and actually do for Abram what Abram did for Lot—give him the land. It seems to be one of the ways that God rewards faith. Adrian Rogers - Go back to Genesis 13 and look at something significant. The Bible says, in Genesis 13, verse 14: “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.” (Genesis 13:14) Now you say, “Pastor, what’s exciting about that verse?” The Bible says that God spoke to Abram after Lot had departed from him. That is, Lot wasn’t there when God was doing the speaking—after Lot departed. Every step that Lot took toward Sodom, he took a step away from God. Here is God speaking with Abram and Lot. And then Lot begins to move away, and God now is speaking with Abram. Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t speak to you? Have you ever wondered why God is not real to you? Have you ever wondered why you don’t have any revelation from God, why your prayers fall to the ground, why your worship is juiceless? “Whosoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of God” (James 4:4+)—that’s why. (See full sermon on page 565 - Your Friendly Enemy Ge 13:5-12) G Campbell
Gênesis 13
Utley - Here again is the metaphorical promise (cf. Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; 28:14; Exod. 32:13; Num. 23:10) of a son, a family, a tribe, and a great nation (YHWH also promises to bless Ishmael, cf. Gen. 16:10; 17:20). The promise is not to be through Lot; he is gone! Abram believes this promise (cf. Gen. 15:6) and Paul uses this as the basis for his justification by grace through faith in Rom. 4:3 and Gal. 3:6. So that (purpose clause) if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants (zera; Lxx = sperma) can also be numbered 0 The point is that they could not be numbered. Put yourself in Abram's sandals for just a moment. How many children does he have at this time? Zero! From zero to innumerable with a barren wife (Ge 11:30) is utterly impossible! Unless the One making the promise is the "non-lying" God! Note that Abram does not say "I'm too old (he was more than 75 at the time - I am 77 and would have said "I'm too old!")" OR "But God, Sarai is barren." OR "But God, I am childless." There is no record of Abram disputing or questioning God. In fact, in Ge 13:17-18 Abram obeys God's commands indicating that he clearly believed God was able to accomplish the impossible! Henry
Gênesis 13
Utley - God used several metaphors with which Abraham would be familiar to describe the abundance of his descendants. dust ‒ Gen. 13:16; 28:14; Num. 23:10 stars ‒ Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4 sand ‒ Gen. 22:17; 32:12 In Genesis Abraham receives many promises from YHWH. land ‒ Gen. 12:1-2; 13:14-15; 15:7,18; 17:8 seed/descendants ‒ Gen. 12:2; 13:16; 15:5,18; 17:2,4-7,16,19; 22:17 covenant ‒ Gen. 17:7,19,21 special blessing of all nations through him ‒ Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14 Genesis 13:17 “Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” Genesis 13 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passages: Genesis 17:8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 26:3 “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. Genesis 50:24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Leviticus 14:34 “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a mark of leprosy on a house in the land of your possession, 2 Kings 13:23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now. Joshua 1:1-3+ Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. Deuteronomy 11:24+ “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours; your border will be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea. GOD COMMAND ABRAM TO ARISE AND WALK Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth - As you think about this command and God's promise, remember that at that time this land was in the hands of the Canaanites, which means that Abram will need to walk by faith, not by sight! (2Co 5:7+). God commands Abram to lay claim to the promised land now possessed by pagans! This is an authentic "name it, claim it!" Yes he was to walk out physically, but to reiterate, he was walking out in faith, for faith that is real, faith that God blesses, is faith that obeys God's commands, God's words! By faith Abram claimed the promised inheritance (See related passages above of walking out in faith). In the ancient world when an army won a victory they would lay claim to the territory by walking through the land. One of the best commentaries on this verse is Hebrews 11:1: "Faith gives substance to our hopes and convinces us of realities we do not see" (REB). Bruce K. Waltke adds that “Kings asserted their right to rule their territory by symbolically tracing out its boundaries. In Egypt (from ca. 3000 B.C.), on the day of his enthronement, the new Pharaoh circumambulated the fortified wall in a festal procession known as the ‘circuit of the wall.’ The Hittite king (ca. 1300 B.C.) toured his realm at the annual winter festival of Nun-ta-ri-ya-shas. In a poem of Ugarit (on the coast of Syria about 1400 B.C.), Baal made rounds of ‘seventy-seven towns, eighty-eight cities’ in order to assert his new kingship over gods and humans. Similarly, the priests within Joshua’s army carried the Lord’s throne around the walls of Jericho for seven days presumably to stake out their claim (Josh. 6). Sarna notes, ‘Early Jewish exegetes (Targ. Jon.) understood this traversing of the length and breadth of the land to be a symbolic act constituting a mode of legal acquisition termed hazakah in rabbinic Hebrew’” (BORROW Genesis, A Commentary page 222). NET NOTE on walk about - The Hitpael form הִתְהַלֵּךְ (hithallekh) means “to walk about”; it also can carry the ideas of moving about, traversing, going back and forth, or living in an area. It here has the connotation of traversing the land to survey it, to look it over. For (term of explanation) - God gives Abram a precious promise to encourage him to obey the commands He had just given him. I will give it to you - God promises to give the land for the third time (Ge 12:7, Ge 13:15). It is a grace promise and was not something Abram merited or earned. Of course, it did not mean that Abram could just "Let go and let God." No, Abram still had to obey to lay hold of the promises, even as we today must obey (enabled by His Spirit) to lay hold of promises like "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (2Pe 1:3) We experience His divine power when we walk in the Spirit and obey His Word ( "Let God and let's go.")
Gênesis 13
Utley - Sacred trees are recurrent themes in early Israel great tree at Moreh ‒ Gen. 12:6; Deut. 11:30 great tree at Mamre ‒ Gen. 13:18; 14:13; 18:1 (cf. Josephus, Antiq. 1.10.4) great tree at Shechem ‒ Gen. 35:4; Jdg. 9:6 great tree at Zaanannim ‒ Josh. 19:33; Jdg. 4:11 great tree at Ophrah ‒ Jdg. 6:11,19 great tree at Tabor ‒ 1 Sam. 10:3 (no mention of an altar) OTHER ALTARS IN THE OT Abel ‒ Gen. 4:4 Noah ‒ Gen. 8:20 Abram ‒ Gen. 13:18; 15:12-21 Isaac ‒ Gen. 26:25 Jacob ‒ Gen. 33:20; 35:7 Job ‒ Job 1:5