Genesis 13
Living Bible
13 1-2 So they left Egypt and traveled north into the Negeb—Abram with his wife, and Lot, and all that they owned, for Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. 3-4 Then they continued northward toward Bethel where he had camped before, between Bethel and Ai—to the place where he had built the altar. And there he again worshiped the Lord.
5 Lot too was very wealthy, with sheep and cattle and many servants.[a] 6 But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds. There were too many animals for the available pasture. 7 So fights broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot, despite the danger they all faced[b] from the tribes of Canaanites and Perizzites present in the land. 8 Then Abram talked it over with Lot. “This fighting between our men has got to stop,” he said. “We can’t afford to let a rift develop between our clans. Close relatives such as we are must present a united front! 9 I’ll tell you what we’ll do. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want that part over there to the east, then I’ll stay here in the western section. Or, if you want the west, then I’ll go over there to the east.”
10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan River, well watered everywhere (this was before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah); the whole section was like the Garden of Eden,[c] or like the beautiful countryside around Zoar in Egypt. 11 So that is what Lot chose—the Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants, and thus he and Abram parted company. 12 For Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain, settling at a place near the city of Sodom. 13 The men of this area were unusually wicked, and sinned greatly against Jehovah.
14 After Lot was gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction, 15 for I am going to give it all to you and your descendants. 16 And I am going to give you so many descendants that, like dust, they can’t be counted! 17 Hike in all directions and explore the new possessions I am giving you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent to the oaks of Mamre, near Hebron, and built an altar to Jehovah there.
Footnotes
- Genesis 13:5 many servants, implied; literally, “many tents.”
- Genesis 13:7 despite the danger they all faced, implied.
- Genesis 13:10 Garden of Eden, literally, “Garden of Jehovah.”
Genesis 13
King James Version
13 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.
14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
Genesis 13
New King James Version
Abram Inherits Canaan
13 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and (A)Lot with him, (B)to the [a]South. 2 (C)Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey (D)from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the (E)place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram (F)called on the name of the Lord.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now (G)the land was not able to [b]support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was (H)strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. (I)The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
8 So Abram said to Lot, (J)“Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 (K)Is not the whole land before you? Please (L)separate from me. (M)If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all (N)the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord (O)destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) (P)like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward (Q)Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot (R)dwelt in the cities of the plain and (S)pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom (T)were exceedingly wicked and (U)sinful against the Lord.
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot (V)had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—(W)northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see (X)I give to you and (Y)your [c]descendants forever. 16 And (Z)I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
18 (AA)Then Abram moved his tent, and went and (AB)dwelt by [d]the terebinth trees of Mamre, (AC)which are in Hebron, and built an (AD)altar there to the Lord.
Footnotes
- Genesis 13:1 Heb. Negev
- Genesis 13:6 Lit. bear
- Genesis 13:15 Lit. seed
- Genesis 13:18 Heb. Alon Mamre
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
