亚伯兰与罗得分道扬镳

13 亚伯兰带着妻子、侄儿罗得和所有的一切离开埃及去南地。 这时候亚伯兰已经拥有很多牲畜和金银。 3-4 他从南地渐渐迁移到伯特利,到了他从前在伯特利和艾中间搭帐篷和筑坛的地方。他又在那里求告耶和华。 和亚伯兰同行的罗得也有牛群、羊群和帐篷。 他们的牲畜很多,那地方容纳不下,他们无法住在一起。 亚伯兰的牧人和罗得的牧人彼此争执。那时,迦南人和比利洗人也住在那里。

亚伯兰对罗得说:“我们不该彼此争执,我们的牧人也不该互相争执,因为我们是骨肉至亲。 整片土地不就在你面前吗?我们分开吧。如果你往左边去,我就往右边走;如果你往右边去,我就往左边走。” 10 罗得举目眺望,看见整个约旦河平原,远至琐珥,水源充足。在耶和华还没有毁灭所多玛和蛾摩拉之前,那地方就好像耶和华的伊甸园,又像埃及。 11 于是,罗得选了整个约旦河平原,向东迁移,他们便分开了。 12 亚伯兰住在迦南,罗得则住在平原的城邑里,并渐渐把帐篷迁移到所多玛附近。 13 所多玛人极其邪恶,在耶和华眼中罪恶滔天。

14 罗得离开后,耶和华对亚伯兰说:“从你站的地方向东西南北眺望, 15 你所能看见的地方,我都要赐给你和你的后代,直到永远。 16 我要使你的后代多如地上的尘土,人若能数算地上的尘土,才能数算你的后代。 17 你起来走遍这片土地,因为我要把这片土地赐给你。” 18 亚伯兰就把帐篷迁移到希伯仑 幔利的橡树那里居住,在那里为耶和华筑了一座祭坛。

亚伯兰返回迦南

13 亚伯兰带着妻子和所有的一切,以及罗得,一同从埃及上到南地去。 亚伯兰有很多牲畜和金银。 他从南地一站一站往前走,到伯特利去;到伯特利和艾城中间,就是他起先支搭帐棚的地方, 也是他筑头一座祭坛的地方,亚伯兰就在那里求告耶和华的名。 和亚伯兰同行的罗得,也有羊群、牛群和帐棚。

亚伯兰与罗得分手

那地容不下他们住在一起;因为他们的财物很多,所以他们再也不能住在一起。 牧养亚伯兰牲畜的和牧养罗得牲畜的,起了纷争;当时迦南人和比利洗人还住在那地。 亚伯兰就对罗得说:“你我之间,切不可纷争;你的牧人和我的牧人之间,也不可纷争,因为我们是至亲。 全地不都是在你面前吗?请你离开我吧!你若向左,我就向右;你若向右,我就向左。” 10 罗得举目,看见约旦河整个平原,直到琐珥,都有水灌溉;在耶和华毁灭所多玛和蛾摩拉之前,这地好象耶和华的园子,也像埃及地一样。 11 罗得选择了约旦河整个平原,于是向东移动,他们就彼此分开了。 12 亚伯兰住在迦南地;罗得住在平原的城市中,渐渐挪移帐棚,直到所多玛。 13 在耶和华看来,所多玛人是罪大恶极的。

亚伯兰获得之应许

14 罗得离开亚伯兰以后,耶和华对亚伯兰说:“你要举目,从你所在的地方向东南西北观看。 15 你看见的地方,我都要赐给你和你的后裔,直到永远。 16 我要使你的后裔好象地上灰尘那么多;若能数算地上的灰尘,才能数算你的后裔。 17 你起来,纵横走遍这地,因为我必把这地赐给你。” 18 于是,亚伯兰渐渐挪移帐棚,来到希伯仑幔利的橡树附近,在那里居住,也在那里为耶和华筑了一座祭坛。

Abram and Lot Separate

13 So Abram went up from Egypt(A) to the Negev,(B) with his wife and everything he had, and Lot(C) went with him. Abram had become very wealthy(D) in livestock(E) and in silver and gold.

From the Negev(F) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel,(G) to the place between Bethel and Ai(H) where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar.(I) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.(J)

Now Lot,(K) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.(L) And quarreling(M) arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites(N) and Perizzites(O) were also living in the land(P) at that time.

So Abram said to Lot,(Q) “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me,(R) or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.(S) Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”(T)

10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain(U) of the Jordan toward Zoar(V) was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,(W) like the land of Egypt.(X) (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom(Y) and Gomorrah.)(Z) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan,(AA) while Lot(AB) lived among the cities of the plain(AC) and pitched his tents near Sodom.(AD) 13 Now the people of Sodom(AE) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.(AF)

14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.(AG) 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[a] forever.(AH) 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.(AI) 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,(AJ) for I am giving it to you.”(AK)

18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre(AL) at Hebron,(AM) where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 13:15 Or seed; also in verse 16

13 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

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;

Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

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.

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.

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.

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.