1So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

3From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.

5Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7And quarrelling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

8So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarrelling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are close relatives. 9Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’

10Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan towards Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out towards the east. The two men parted company: 12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. 13Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.

14The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, ‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring#13:15 Or seed; also in verse 16 for ever. 16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.’

18So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®

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Genesis 13

CHAPTER 13

1Therefore Abram ascended from Egypt, he, and his wife, and all things that he had; and Lot went with him, to the south coast.

2Forsooth he was full rich in possessions of silver, and of gold.

3And he turned again by the way in which he came from the south into Bethel, till to the place, in which before he had set a tabernacle, betwixt Bethel and Hai,

4in the place of the altar which he made before, and inwardly called there the name of the Lord.

5But also flocks of sheep, and droves of oxen, and tabernacles were to Lot, that was with Abram;

6and the land might not take them, that they should dwell together, for the cattle of them was much, and they might not dwell in common.

7Wherefore also strife was made betwixt the keepers of [the] flocks of Abram and of Lot. Forsooth Canaanites and Perizzites dwelled in that land in that time.

8Therefore Abram said to Lot, I beseech thee, that no strife be betwixt me and thee, and betwixt my shepherds and thy shepherds; for we be brethren.

9Lo! all the land is before thee, I beseech, depart thou from me; if thou go to the left side, I shall hold the right side; if thou choose the right side, I shall go to the left side.

10And so Lot raised [up] his eyes, and saw about all the country of Jordan, which was all-moisted, before that the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, as paradise of the Lord, and as Egypt, as men come into Zoar.

11And Lot chose to him the country about Jordan, and departed from the east; and they were parted each from his brother.

12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan; soothly Lot dwelled in [the] towns about Jordan, and abode in Sodom.

13Forsooth men of Sodom were full wicked, and sinners greatly before the Lord.

14And the Lord said to Abram, after that Lot was parted from him, Raise [up] thine eyes forthright, and see from the place in which thou art now, to the north and south, to the east and west;

15I shall give all the land which thou seest to thee, and to thy seed, till into without end.

16And I shall make thy seed as the dust of the earth; if any man may number the dust of the earth, also he shall be able to number thy seed.

17Therefore rise thou, and pass through the land in his length and breadth, for I shall give it to thee.

18Therefore Abram, moving his tabernacle, came and dwelled beside the valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron; and he builded there an altar to the Lord.

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Genesis 13

Genesis 13