< Genesis 13 >

1 So Abram and Sarai left Egypt, and they took along all his possessions, and Lot went with them to the Negev [Desert].
Therefore, Abram ascended from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, toward the southern region.
2 Abram was very rich. He owned a lot of livestock, silver and gold.
But he was very wealthy by the possession of gold and silver.
3 They continued traveling from place to place from the Negev [Desert] toward Bethel [town] to the place between Bethel and Ai where they had previously set up their tents,
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.
4 and where Abram had made a stone altar and worshiped Yahweh.
There, at the place of the altar he had made before, he again called upon the name of the Lord.
5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks of sheep and goats and herds of cattle, and tents.
But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and cattle, and tents.
6 But they 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.
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.
7 Furthermore, the descendants of Canaan and Perizzi were also living in that area, and the land really belonged to them. And the men who took care of Abram’s animals started quarreling with the men who took care of Lot’s animals.
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.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Since we are close relatives, it is not good for us two to quarrel, or for the men who take care of your animals to quarrel with the men who take care of my animals.
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.
9 There is plenty of land for both of us. So we should separate. You can choose whatever part you want [RHQ]. If you want the area over there, I will stay here. If you want the area here, I will go over there.”
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.”
10 Lot looked around toward Zoar [town], and saw that there was plenty of water all over the plain near the Jordan [River]. It was like the park/garden in Eden, and like the land in Egypt. [That was before Yahweh destroyed [the cities of] Sodom and Gomorrah which were on that plain.]
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.
11 So Lot chose the land in the plain of the Jordan [River]. He left his uncle, Abram, and moved east.
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.
12 Abram stayed in the Canaan area, and Lot started to live near the cities in the plain of the Jordan [River], and he set up his tents near Sodom [city].
Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan. In truth, Lot stayed in the towns that were around the Jordan, and he lived in Sodom.
13 [You need to know that] people who lived there were extremely wicked.
But the men of Sodom were very wicked, and they were sinners before the Lord beyond measure.
14 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.
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.
15 I will give to you and your descendants all the land that you see; I will give it to you forever.
All the land that you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring even forever.
16 I will cause your descendants to be as numerous as particles of dust! [It will be easier] to count the particles of dust than it will be to count your descendants [HYP].
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.
17 Walk through the land in every direction, because I am going to give it all to you.”
Arise and walk through the land in its length, and breadth. For I will give it to you.”
18 So Abram [and his men] took down their tents and moved to Hebron and started to live by the huge trees [at the town] Mamre. He placed a stone altar there to [make sacrifices to] Yahweh.
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.

< Genesis 13 >