The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Chapter 13 -

So Abram and Sarai left Egypt and went back to the southern Judean wilderness. They took along all their possessions, and Lot went with them.

Abram was very rich. He owned a lot of livestock, silver, and gold.

They continued traveling from place to place from the southern Judean wilderness toward Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where they had previously set up their tents.

This is also where Abram had built an altar; there he worshiped Yahweh again.

Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks of sheep and goats and herds of cattle and tents.

The two of them had so many animals that they could not all stay in the same area. There was not enough land to provide water and food for all their animals.

Furthermore, the men who took care of Abram’s livestock started quarreling with the men who took care of Lot’s livestock. The descendants of Canaan and Perez were also living in that area.

Then Abram said to Lot, “Since we are close relatives, it is not good for us to quarrel, or for the men who take care of your animals to quarrel with the men who take care of my animals.

There is plenty of land for both of us. So we should separate. You can choose whatever part you want. If you want the area over there, I will stay here. If you want the area here, I will go over there.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

Lot looked toward Zoar and saw that there was plenty of water all over the plain near the Jordan River. This was before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah which were on that plain. In those days, it was like the garden of Yahweh, like the land in Egypt near the Nile River.

So Lot chose for himself the land in the plain of the Jordan River. He left his uncle, Abram, and moved east.

Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, and Lot went to live near the cities in the plain of the Jordan River, and he set up his tents near Sodom.

Now the people who lived in Sodom were extremely wicked and sinned terribly against Yahweh.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

After Abram and Lot separated, Yahweh said to Abram, “Look around at this whole area where you are. Look north and south, look east and west.

I will give to you and to your descendants all the land that you see; I will give it to you forever.

I will cause your descendants to be as numerous as particles of dust! If a man tried to count the particles of dust, it would be the same as if he tried to count your descendants.

Walk through the land in every direction, because I am going to give it all to you.”

So Abram took down his tents and moved to Hebron and settled by the big trees of Mamre. He built a stone altar there to make sacrifices to Yahweh.

Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.

Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

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,

to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the LORD’s name.

Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.

So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other.

Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against the LORD.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

The LORD 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,

for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.

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.

Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”

Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.