Teks -- Genesis 13:1-4 (NET)

Abram’s Solution to the Strife

13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt into the Negev. He took his wife and all his possessions with him, as well as Lot. 13:2 (Now Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.) 13:3 And he journeyed from place to place from the Negev as far as Bethel. He returned to the place where he had pitched his tent at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai. 13:4 This was the place where he had first built the altar, and there Abram worshiped the Lord.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Gen 13:3 - He went on to Bethel

Thither he went, not only because he was willing to go among his old acquaintance; but because there he had formerly had his altar. and though the altar was gone, probably he himself having taking it down when he left the place, 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 sweet 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.

JFB: Gen 13:1 - went up . . . south

Palestine being a highland country, the entrance from Egypt by its southern boundary is a continual ascent.

JFB: Gen 13:2 - very rich

Compared with the pastoral tribes to which Abraham belonged. An Arab sheik is considered rich who has a hundred or two hundred tents, from sixty to a hundred camels, a thousand sheep and goats respectively. And Abram being very rich, must have far exceeded that amount of pastoral property. "Gold and silver" being rare among these peoples, his probably arose from the sale of his produce in Egypt.

JFB: Gen 13:3 - went on his journeys

His progress would be by slow marches and frequent encampments as Abram had to regulate his movements by the prospect of water and pasturage.

JFB: Gen 13:3 - unto the place . . . between Beth-el and Hai

"a conspicuous hill--its topmost summit resting on the rocky slopes below, and distinguished by its olive groves--offering a natural base for the altar and a fitting shade for the tent of the patriarch" [STANLEY].

JFB: Gen 13:4 - there Abram called on the name of the Lord

He felt a strong desire to reanimate his faith and piety on the scene of his former worship: it might be to express humility and penitence for his misconduct in Egypt or thankfulness for deliverance from perils--to embrace the first opportunity on returning to Canaan of leading his family to renew allegiance to God and offer the typical sacrifices which pointed to the blessings of the promise.

Clarke: Gen 13:1 - Abram went up out of Egypt - into the south

Abram went up out of Egypt - into the south - Probably the south of Canaan, as In leaving Egypt he is said to come from the south, Gen 13:3, for the southern part of the promised land lay north-east of Egypt.

Clarke: Gen 13:2 - Abram was very rich

Abram was very rich - The property of these patriarchal times did not consist in flocks only, but also in silver and gold; and in all these respects Abram was דבד מאד cabed meod , exceeding rich. Josephus says that a part of this property was acquired by teaching the Egyptians arts and sciences. Thus did God fulfill his promises to him, by protecting and giving him a great profusion of temporal blessings, which were to him signs and pledges of spiritual things.

Clarke: Gen 13:3 - Beth-el

Beth-el - See Genesis 8.

Calvin: Gen 13:1 - And Abram went up out of Egypt

1.And Abram went up out of Egypt. In the commencement of the chapter, Moses commemorates the goodness of God in protecting Abram; whence it came to pass, that he not only returned in safety, but took with him great wealth. This circumstance is also to be noticed, that when he was leaving Egypt, abounding in cattle and treasures, he was allowed to pursue his journey in peace; for it is surprising that the Egyptians would suffer what Abram had acquired among them, to be transferred elsewhere. Moses next shows that riches proved no sufficient obstacle to prevent Abram from having respect continually to his proposed end, and from moving towards it with unremitting pace. We know how greatly even a moderate share of wealth, hinders many from raising their heads towards heaven; while they who really possess abundance, not only lie torpid in indolence, but are entirely buried in the earth. Wherefore, Moses places the virtue of Abram in contrast with the common vice of others; when he relates that he was not to be prevented by any impediments, from seeking again the land of Canaan. For he might (like many others) have been able to flatter himself with some fair pretext: such as, that since God, from whom he had received extraordinary blessings, had been favorable and kind to him in Egypt, it was right for him to remain there. But he does not forget what had been divinely commanded him; and, therefore, as one unfettered, he hastens to the place whither he is called. Wherefore, the rich are deprived of all excuse, if they are so rooted in the earth, that they do not attend the call of God. Two extremes, however, are here to be guarded against. Many place angelical perfection in poverty; as if it were impossible to cultivate piety and to serve God, unless riches are cast away. Few indeed imitate Crates the Theban, who cast his treasures into the sea; because he did not think that he could be saved unless they were lost. Yet many fanatics repel rich men from the hope of salvation; as if poverty were the only gate of heaven; which yet, sometimes, involves men in more hindrances than riches. But Augustine wisely teaches us, that the rich and poor are collected together in the same inheritance of life; because poor Lazarus was received into the bosom of rich Abraham. On the other hand, we must beware of the opposite evil; lest riches should cast a stumblingblock in our way, or should so burden us, that we should the less readily advance towards the kingdom of heaven.

Calvin: Gen 13:3 - And he went on his journeys

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 subjoins, that an altar had before been there erected by him and that he then also began anew to call upon the name of the Lord: whereby we may learn, that the holy man was always like himself in worshipping God, and giving evidence of his piety. The explanation given by some, that the inhabitants of the place had been brought to the pure worship of God, is neither probable, nor to be deduced from the words of Moses. And we have stated elsewhere what is the force of the expression, ‘To invoke in the name,’ or, ‘To call upon the name of the Lord;’ namely, to profess the true and pure worship of God. For Abram invoked God, not twelve times only, during the whole course of his life; but whenever he publicly celebrated him, and by a solemn rite, made it manifest that he had nothing in common with the superstitions of the heathen, then he is also said to have called upon God. Therefore, although he always worshipped God, and exercised himself in daily prayers; yet, because he did not daily testify his piety by outward profession before men, this virtue is here especially commended by Moses. It was therefore proper that invocation should be conjoined with the altar; because by the sacrifices offered, he plainly testified what God he worshipped in order that the Canaanites might know that he was not addicted to their common idolatries.

TSK: Gen 13:1 - the south

am 2086, bc 1918

the south : The south of Canaan; as in leaving Egypt, it is said he ""came from the south,""(Gen 13:3), and the southern part of the promised land lay north-east of Egypt. Gen 12:9-20, Gen 20:1, Gen 21:33; Jos 10:40, Jos 18:5; 1Sa 27:10; 2Sa 24:7

TSK: Gen 13:2

Gen 24:35, Gen 26:12, Gen 26:13; Deu 8:18; 1Sa 2:7; Job 1:3, Job 1:10, Job 22:21-25; Psa 112:1-3; Pro 3:9, Pro 3:10, Pro 10:22; Mat 6:33; 1Ti 4:8

TSK: Gen 13:3 - from // Bethel and Hai

from : Gen 12:6, Gen 12:8, Gen 12:9

Bethel and Hai : i.e., The place which was afterwards called Bethel by Jacob, and so called when Moses wrote; for its first name was Luz (Gen 28:19).

TSK: Gen 13:4 - Unto // called

Unto : Gen 13:18, Gen 12:7, Gen 12:8, Gen 35:1-3; Psa 26:8, Psa 42:1, Psa 42:2, Psa 84:1, Psa 84:2, Psa 84:10

called : Gen 4:26; Psa 65:1, Psa 65:2, Psa 107:1, Psa 107:8, Psa 107:15, Psa 116:2, Psa 116:17, Psa 145:18; Isa 58:9; Jer 29:12; Zep 3:9; 1Co 1:2; Eph 6:18, Eph 6:19

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Gen 13:3 - He went on his journey

He went on his journey or rather, according to his journeys, which he took as he came, going in the same road, and resting in the same place, of which he had experience.

Poole: Gen 13:4 - Unto the place of the altar

Unto the place of the altar i.e. where the altar was; for the altar itself was either fallen down, as being probably built of earth, as afterwards, Exo 20:24 , or overthrown by the wicked Canaanites. He worshipped God by prayer, and preaching to his family, Gen 18:19 , and offering sacrifices. See Gen 4:26 12:8 .

Haydock: Gen 13:2 - Rich in possession

Rich in possession. Hebrew may be "heavy laden with cattle, gold," &c. (Menochius)

Gill: Gen 13:1 - 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 went up out of Egypt,.... That country lying low, and so more easy to be watered by the river Nile, as it was, and Canaan being higher; whither he went, but not till the famine in Canaan ceased: he went out of Egypt, as the Jewish ^p chronologers say, after he had been there three months; but Artapanus ^q an Heathen writer, says, he stayed there twenty years:

he and his wife, and all that he had; servants and cattle:

and Lot with him: from whence it is clear that he went down with him into Egypt, and it is highly probable had great respect and favour shown him on account of his relation to Abram and Sarai; for it appears by what follows, that he was become very rich: and they all went up

into the south; into the southern part of the land of Canaan, for otherwise they came to the north; for as Egypt lay south with respect to Canaan, Canaan was north from Egypt; but they journeyed to that part of that land which was commonly called the south, either Negeb, as here, or Daroma; See Gill on Zec 7:7.

Gill: Gen 13:2 - And Abram was very rich // in cattle, in silver, and in gold

And Abram was very rich,.... He was rich in spiritual things, in faith, and in all other graces, and was an heir of the kingdom of heaven; and in temporal things, as it sometimes is the lot of good men to be, though but rarely, at least to be exceeding rich, as Abram was; or "very heavy" ^r, as the word signifies, he was loaded with wealth and riches, and sometimes an abundance of riches are a burden to a man, and, instead of making him more easy, create him more trouble; and, as we may observe presently, were the occasion of much trouble to Abram and Lot. Abram's riches lay

in cattle, in silver, and in gold; cattle are mentioned first, as being the principal part of the riches of men in those days, such as sheep and oxen, he and she asses and camels, see Gen 12:16 and besides these he had great quantities of silver and gold: the Jews say ^s he coined money in his own name, and that his coin had on one side an old man and an old woman, and on the other side a young man and a young woman. His riches no doubt were greatly increased by the gifts and presents he received from the king of Egypt during his stay there.

Gill: Gen 13:3 - And he went on in his journeys from the south // even to Bethel // unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning // between Bethel and Hai

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 rested. And thus he went on through the southern part of the land, until he came

even to Bethel; as it was afterwards called, though now Luz, Gen 28:19.

unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning; when he first came into the land of Canaan, to a mountain

between Bethel and Hai; afterwards called Mount Ephraim, and was four miles from Jerusalem on the north ^t; see Gen 12:8.

Gill: Gen 13:4 - Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first // And there Abram called on the name of the Lord

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 the idolatrous Canaanites.

And there Abram called on the name of the Lord; prayed unto him, and gave him thanks for the preservation of him and his wife in Egypt; for the support of himself and his family there during the famine in Canaan; for the increase of his worldly substance, and for the protection of him, and all that belonged to him, in his journey from Egypt thither; and for all the instances of his grace, and the rich experiences of his goodness he had favoured him with; See Gill on Gen 12:8 where the same form of expression is used.