Gen. 13:10; 20, The Prophet Abraham

Here is an interesting geographical matter.  In Israel, at the base of Mt. Gilboa, in the Jordan Valley, near where a city called “Adam” was located (Josh. 3:16), there is an Israeli National Park called “Gan HaShlosha.”  It is commonly referred to as a modern-day “Garden of Eden.”  “Adam” was at the place where the Jabbock River entered the Jordan River.  That site is not far from Gan HaShlosha.  And it just might be in the general vicinity of where Lot was looking in Gen. 13:10. It depends on the location of Sodom.  Archaeologists have long placed it under the southern end of the Dead Sea.  But in recent years there are many who believe it is better placed at the northern end of the Dead Sea and not under water.  This latter view makes sense concerning at least 2 facts from Gen. 13:10.

“Plain” is one of several Hebrew words translated “plain” in English.  But in Hebrew they are more technical.  In our passage it is kikar and refers to something “round.”  At the northern end of the Dead Sea is a flat, round plain.  Look at the accompanying map and you will see, basically where you see the word “Jordan” north of the Dead Sea.

·       In addition, according to Gen. 13:3 the conversation between Abram and Lot took place in the area of Bethel.  Again, if you look at the map, it’s a long way from Bethel to see the southern end of the Dead Sea.  It makes more sense that what Lot saw was at the north end.

Are these critical issues?  Not necessarily.  However, in archaeology, there are differences of opinion as to how seriously one takes the Bible when trying to locate sites mentioned in the Bible.  We have said this previously, but note it again: in the early days of Israel’s post-1948 existence the Jewish archaeologists took the Bible seriously and the result was they found what they expected to find.

Here are a few observations from Gen. 20.

·       20:8: “Abimelech rose early in the morning.”  That is always a good sign for obedience.  The same can be said of Abraham in 22:3. Abimelech was, of course, King of Gerar, essentially the Philistine area in David’s time.  He did not worship Abraham’s God.  But that did not mean he denied the existence of Abraham’s God.  So when Abraham’s God spoke, Abimelech acted quickly.  To save his own skin, of course.

·       20:16: In the NKJV the end of the verse “rebuked” has an alternate reading “vindicated.”  The alternate reading makes sense to me.  The Hebrew term has a root meaning of “to prove, decide, judge.”  So, you can see it’s use in both a rebuke and a vindication.

·       20:17: What is interesting in this second story of Sarah being taken into a king’s household is the status of Abraham.  He is now “a prophet” (v7) and will need to pray for Abimelech in order to take the curse off his household.

I do love the stories of Abraham, and the story of God’s redemptive work as it winds its way through the history of the Patriarchs.