1Abram went up from Egypt toward the arid southern plain with his wife, with everything he had, and with Lot. 2Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. 3Abram traveled, making and breaking camp, from the arid southern plain to Bethel and to the sacred place there, where he had first pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai, 4that is, to the place at which he had earlier built the altar. There he worshipped in the LORD’s name. 5Now Lot, who traveled with Abram, also had flocks, cattle, and tents. 6They had so many possessions between them that the land couldn’t support both of them. They could no longer live together. 7Conflicts broke out between those herding Abram’s livestock and those herding Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.

8Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have disputes between me and you and between our herders since we are relatives. 9Isn’t the whole land in front of you? Let’s separate. If you go north, I will go south; and if you go south, I will go north.” 10Lot looked up and saw the entire Jordan Valley. All of it was well irrigated, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar (this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah). 11So Lot chose for himself the entire Jordan Valley. Lot set out toward the east, and they separated from each other. 12Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled near the cities of the valley and pitched his tent close to Sodom. 13The citizens of Sodom were very evil and sinful against the LORD.

14After Lot separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, “From the place where you are standing, look up and gaze to the north, south, east, and west, 15because all the land that you see I give you and your descendants forever. 16I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth. If someone could count the bits of dust on the earth, then they could also count your descendants. 17Stand up and walk around through the length and breadth of the land because I am giving it to you.” 18So Abram packed his tent and went and settled by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.

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Genesis 13

Abram and Lot Separate

1Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev # Gn 12:9 — he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. 2Abram was very rich # Lit heavy in livestock, silver, and gold. 3He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, 4to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of Yahweh there. # Gn 12:7,8

5Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together, # Gn 36:7 7and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. # Gn 26:20 At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land. # Gn 12:6; 15:20-21

8Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. # Lit brothers 9Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

10Lot looked out and saw that the entire Jordan Valley # Gn 19:17-29 as far as # Lit Valley as you go to Zoar # Gn 14:2,8; Dt 34:3 was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden # Gn 2:8-10 and the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. # Gn 19:24-25 11So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. 12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities of the valley and set up his tent near Sodom. 13Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly # Lit evil and sinful against the Lord. # Gn 18:20; Ezk 16:49; 2Pt 2:7-8

14After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, # Gn 28:14 15for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. # Gn 12:7; 15:18; 17:8; 24:7; 26:4; 28:13; 35:12; Dt 34:4; 2Ch 20:7; Ac 7:5 16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, # Gn 16:10; 28:14; Nm 23:10 so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”

18So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, # Gn 14:13; 18:1; 23:17-19 where he built an altar to the Lord.

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Genesis 13

Genesis 13