Genesis 13
Christian Standard Bible
Abram and Lot Separate
13 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev(A)—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. 3 He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, 4 to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of the Lord there.(B)
5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 But 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,(C) 7 and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock.(D) (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.)(E)
8 So 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. 9 Isn’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.”
10 Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain[a] of the Jordan(F) as far as Zoar(G) was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden(H) and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)(I) 11 So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom. 13 (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely[b] against the Lord.)(J)
14 After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west,(K) 15 for I will give you and your offspring[c] forever all the land that you see.(L) 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth,(M) so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron,(N) where he built an altar to the Lord.
Genesis 13
Expanded Bible
Abram and Lot Separate
13 So Abram, his wife, and Lot ·left [L came up from] Egypt, taking everything they owned, and traveled ·to southern Canaan [L into the Negev; C a somewhat desolate area]. 2 Abram was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold.
3 He ·left [L went by stages from] ·southern Canaan [L the Negev] and went back to Bethel where ·he had camped before [L his tent had been], between Bethel and Ai [12:8], 4 and where he had built an altar [L at first]. So he ·worshiped [L called on the name of] the Lord there.
5 During this time Lot was traveling with Abram, and Lot also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 Abram and Lot had so many ·animals [L possessions] that the land could not support both of them together, 7 so Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen began to argue. The Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at this time.
8 Abram said to Lot, “There should be no arguing between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, because we are ·brothers [relatives]. 9 We should separate. ·The whole land is [L Is not the whole land…?] there in front of you. If you go to the left, I will go to the right. If you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
10 Lot looked all around and saw the whole Jordan ·Valley [or plain; region] and that there was much water there. It was like the Lord’s garden [C the garden of Eden], like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zoar [C name meaning “small,” in the vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah; 14:2, 17; 19:23–24]. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah [19:1–29].) 11 So Lot chose to move east and live in the Jordan Valley [13:10]. In this way Abram and Lot separated. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived among the cities in the Jordan Valley [13:10], ·very near to [L he moved his tent near] Sodom. 13 Now the people of Sodom were very evil and were always sinning against the Lord.
14 After Lot ·left [L had separated from him], the Lord said to Abram, “Look all around you—to the north and south and east and west. 15 All this land that you see I will give to you and your ·descendants [L seed] forever. 16 I will make your ·descendants [L seed] as many as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust on the earth, he could count your ·people [L seed]. 17 Get up! Walk through ·all [L the length and width of] this land because I am now giving it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great ·trees [L oaks; or terebinths] of Mamre [C an area near Hebron, named after an Amorite leader; 14:13, 24] at the city of Hebron [C nineteen miles south of Jerusalem]. There he built an altar to the Lord.
Genesis 13
New International Reader's Version
Abram and Lot Separate
13 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev Desert. He took his wife and everything he had. Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very rich. He had a lot of livestock and silver and gold.
3 Abram left the Negev Desert. He went from place to place until he came to Bethel. Then he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier. 4 There he called on the name of the Lord at the altar he had built.
5 Lot was moving around with Abram. Lot also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land didn’t have enough food for both Abram and Lot. They had large herds and many servants, so they weren’t able to stay together. 7 The people who took care of Abram’s herds and those who took care of Lot’s herds began to argue. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not argue with each other. The people taking care of your herds and those taking care of mine shouldn’t argue with one another either. After all, we’re part of the same family. 9 Isn’t the whole land in front of you? Let’s separate. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right. If you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot looked around. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley toward the town of Zoar had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 11 So Lot chose the whole Jordan River valley for himself. Then he started out toward the east. The two men separated. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities of the Jordan River valley. He set up his tents near Sodom. 13 The people of Sodom were evil. They were sinning greatly against the Lord.
14 The Lord spoke to Abram after Lot had left him. He said, “Look around from where you are. Look north and south, east and west. 15 I will give you all the land you see. I will give it forever to you and your family who comes after you. 16 I will make them like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your family can be counted. 17 Go! Walk through the land. See how long and wide it is. I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram went to live near the large trees of Mamre at Hebron. There he pitched his tents and built an altar to honor the Lord.
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