Study it in the app“Lot lifted his eyes and saw the whole plain of the Jordan, that all of it was well-watered (before YHWH destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of YHWH, like the land of Egypt, as you go toward Zoar.”
Abram lets Lot choose, to avoid a quarrel between their herdsmenConflict and Reconciliation
Lotלוֹטliftedוַיִּשָּׂאhis eyesאֶת עֵינָיוand sawוַיַּרְאthe wholeאֶת כָּלplainכִּכַּרof the Jordan,הַיַּרְדֵּןthatכִּיall of itכֻלָּהּwas well-wateredמַשְׁקֶה(beforeלִפְנֵיYHWHיְהוָהdestroyedשַׁחֵתSodomאֶת סְדֹםand Gomorrah)וְאֶת עֲמֹרָהlike the gardenכְּגַןof YHWH,יְהוָהlike the landכְּאֶרֶץof Egypt,מִצְרַיִםas you goבֹּאֲכָהtoward Zoar.צֹעַר
Lot
Lot, nephew of Abram, son of Haran; he settled in Sodom and was saved from its destruction. Father of Moab and Ammon.
Where else “lot” appearslift up
To direct the eyes upward, make the voice loud, or put up the hand.
Where else “yisa” appearseye
The organ with which one sees; so "lift the eyes" means to look.
Where else “enay” appearssee
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “yar” appearsplain
Literally "the circle": the lowland around the Jordan.
Where else “kikar” appearsJordan
See it on the mapWhere else “yarden” appearswell-watered land
Well-watered land, with enough water for pasture or crops.
Where else “mashke” appearsbefore
Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.
Where else “fene” appearsYHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appearsdestroy
To ruin something completely, until it no longer exists or no longer serves.
Where else “shachet” appearsSodom
See it on the mapWhere else “sedom” appearsGomorrah
See it on the mapWhere else “amora” appearsgarden
Garden: an enclosed and tended piece of land, with trees and water.
Where else “gan” appearsland
A region or nation, above all Israel's.
Where else “erets” appearsEgypt, Mizraim
See it on the mapWhere else “mitsrayim” appearscome
To come, arrive: "days are coming".
Where else “boa” appearsZoar
See it on the mapWhere else “tsoar” appears1Jordan
Today: Jordan River: Israel, West Bank, Jordan, Dead Sea
Israel's main river; it flows from Mount Hermon in the north, through the Sea of Galilee, to the Dead Sea.
Israel crossed it on dry ground to enter the promised land (Josh 3:17). Naaman was healed in it (2 Kgs 5:14), and Jesus was immersed in it (Matt 3:13).
2Sodom ?
Today: disputed; perhaps south or northeast of the Dead Sea
A city of the Jordan plain; its site is not known for certain, perhaps near the Dead Sea.
Its people were very wicked (Gen 13:13). God destroyed it with fire, and saved Lot (Gen 19:24-25).
3Gomorrah ?
Today: disputed; near the Dead Sea
A city of the Jordan plain, next to Sodom; its site is not known for certain.
God destroyed it together with Sodom for its great sin (Gen 18:20; 19:24).
4Egypt
Today: Egypt (Nile Valley)
A country in northeast Africa along the Nile River, southwest of Israel.
Joseph was sold into it, and his family went down to live there (Gen 37:28; 46:6). God brought Israel out of it with a mighty hand (Exod 12:41). The child Jesus fled there with his parents (Matt 2:14).
5Zoar ?
Today: possibly Safi, south of the Dead Sea, Jordan
A small town near the Dead Sea; its site is not known for certain.
Lot fled there when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; the town was spared because of his plea (Gen 19:20-22).
9Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; and if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
10 · This verse (above)
11So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; and they separated, each from his brother.
1. What it says
How did Abram settle the conflict with Lot, and which place did each one choose (vv. 8-12)?
2. What it means
What does it show about Abram that he let Lot choose the land first (vv. 8-9)?
3. How I live it
How can you yield in a disagreement today in order to protect a relationship?
