1 Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
3 He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.
6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together ; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.
7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.
Note · Genèse 13.1–7
Des biens qui compliquent la coexistence
Les richesses des deux maisons ne garantissent pas leur accord. Le conflit concerne les bergers et la capacité du pays à accueillir leurs troupeaux ensemble. Le passage invite à regarder les effets relationnels de l’accumulation, sans présenter les biens matériels comme mauvais par définition.
8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen ; for we are relatives.
9 Isn’t the whole land before you ? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.
11 So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another.
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
Note · Genèse 13.8–13
Une concession qui ne connaît pas tout l’avenir
Abram laisse Lot choisir. Cette initiative apaise une rivalité sans garantir que chaque décision suivante sera heureuse. La proximité de Sodome introduit un risque moral distinct de la qualité des pâturages. Le récit n’autorise pas à juger la valeur d’un lieu par sa seule prospérité.
14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.
16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.
17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width ; for I will give it to you.”
18 Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.
Note · Genèse 13.14–18
Une promesse reçue après la séparation
Dieu invite Abram à regarder le pays et renouvelle la promesse d’une descendance. Abram bâtit un autel, mais demeure sous la tente. L’acte de foi n’efface pas la durée nécessaire à l’accomplissement. Cette parole ancienne ne peut être transférée sans examen en titre de propriété pour un conflit contemporain.
