Genesis 13

1 Abram went up out of Egypt: he, his wife, and all his possessions, and Lot with him, into the Negev.

So Abram left Egypt and went back into the Negev along with Sarai, Lot, and everyone with them, as well as all their possessions.

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

Abram was very rich, having many herds of livestock and a great deal of silver and gold.

3 He went on his journeys from the Negev even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,

He left the Negev and traveled in stages to Bethel, back to the place where he'd camped before, between Bethel and Ai.

4 to the place where he had first built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of God.

This was where he'd first built an altar. He worshiped the Lord there as he had done previously.

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

Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had many flocks, herds, and tents,

6 The land was not able to support them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to remain together.

so much so that the available land couldn't support both of them—they had so much livestock they couldn't stay together anymore.

7 There was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land at that time.

Abram's and Lot's herdsmen were arguing, and in addition the Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

8 Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are relatives.

So Abram said to Lot, “Please don't let's have arguments between us, or between our herdsmen, because we're family.

9 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."

You see all this land that's available right in front of you? We have to split up. If you choose to go to the left, I'll go to the right. If you choose to go to the right, I'll go to the left.”

10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, like the garden of God, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

Lot looked over the whole Jordan valley towards Zoar, and saw that it was well-watered, looking like the Garden of Eden, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

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

So Lot chose the whole Jordan valley and went east, and the two separated from each other.

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

Abram went to live in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled down among the towns in the valley, setting up his tents near Sodom.

13 Now the people of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly against God.

(The people of Sodom were very wicked, committing terrible sins that offended the Lord.)

14 And God said to Abram after Lot had departed from him, "Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,

After separating from Lot, the Lord told Abram, “Look around you from where you're standing, to the north, south, east, and west.

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

I'm giving all this land you see to you and your descendants forever.

16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring also could be counted.

You will have so many descendants that they'll be like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count dust then they could count the number of your descendants!

17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth; for I will give it to you."

Go and walk through the whole land in all directions because I'm giving it to you.”

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

So Abram went to live at Hebron, setting up his tents among the oaks at Mamre, where he built an altar to the Lord.