The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Chapter 13 -

Therefore, Abram ascended from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, toward the southern region.(a)

But he was very wealthy by the possession of gold and silver.

And he returned by the way that he came, from the meridian into Bethel, all the way to the place where before he had pitched his tent, between Bethel and Hai.

There, at the place of the altar he had made before, he again called upon the name of the Lord.

But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and cattle, and tents.

Neither was the land able to contain them, so that they might dwell together. Indeed, their substance was so great that they could not live in common.

And then there also arose a conflict between the shepherds of Abram and of Lot. Now at that time the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in that land.

Therefore, Abram said to Lot: “I ask you, let there be no quarrel between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds. For we are brothers.

Behold, the entire land is before your eyes. Withdraw from me, I beg you. If you will go to the left, I will take the right. If you choose the right, I will pass to the left.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

And so Lot, lifting up his eyes, saw all the region around the Jordan, which was thoroughly irrigated, before the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It was like the Paradise of the Lord, and it was like Egypt, approaching toward Zoar.

And Lot chose for himself the region around the Jordan, and he withdrew by way of the east. And they were divided, one brother from the other.

Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan. In truth, Lot stayed in the towns that were around the Jordan, and he lived in Sodom.

But the men of Sodom were very wicked, and they were sinners before the Lord beyond measure.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was divided from him: “Lift up your eyes, and gaze out from the place where you are now, to the north and to the meridian, to the east and to the west.

All the land that you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring even forever.

And I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If any man is able to number the dust of the earth, he will be able to number your offspring as well.

Arise and walk through the land in its length, and breadth. For I will give it to you.”

Therefore, moving his tent, Abram went and dwelt by the steep valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron. And he built an altar there to the Lord.

Footnotes

(a)13:1 Abram went south from Egypt, therefore, he was further south in Africa. The term Meridian, in Daniel and in this passage from Genesis, refers to Africa at or near the Equator.(Conte)

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.