亞伯蘭與羅得分道揚鑣

13 亞伯蘭帶著妻子、侄兒羅得和所有的一切離開埃及去南地。 這時候亞伯蘭已經擁有很多牲畜和金銀。 3-4 他從南地漸漸遷移到伯特利,到了他從前在伯特利和艾中間搭帳篷和築壇的地方。他又在那裡求告耶和華。 和亞伯蘭同行的羅得也有牛群、羊群和帳篷。 他們的牲畜很多,那地方容納不下,他們無法住在一起。 亞伯蘭的牧人和羅得的牧人彼此爭執。那時,迦南人和比利洗人也住在那裡。

亞伯蘭對羅得說:「我們不該彼此爭執,我們的牧人也不該互相爭執,因為我們是骨肉至親。 整片土地不就在你面前嗎?我們分開吧。如果你往左邊去,我就往右邊走;如果你往右邊去,我就往左邊走。」 10 羅得舉目眺望,看見整個約旦河平原,遠至瑣珥,水源充足。在耶和華還沒有毀滅所多瑪和蛾摩拉之前,那地方就好像耶和華的伊甸園,又像埃及。 11 於是,羅得選了整個約旦河平原,向東遷移,他們便分開了。 12 亞伯蘭住在迦南,羅得則住在平原的城邑裡,並漸漸把帳篷遷移到所多瑪附近。 13 所多瑪人極其邪惡,在耶和華眼中罪惡滔天。

14 羅得離開後,耶和華對亞伯蘭說:「從你站的地方向東西南北眺望, 15 你所能看見的地方,我都要賜給你和你的後代,直到永遠。 16 我要使你的後代多如地上的塵土,人若能數算地上的塵土,才能數算你的後代。 17 你起來走遍這片土地,因為我要把這片土地賜給你。」 18 亞伯蘭就把帳篷遷移到希伯崙 幔利的橡樹那裡居住,在那裡為耶和華築了一座祭壇。

Abram and Lot Separate

13 Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev(A)—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him. Abram was very rich[a] in livestock, silver, and gold. He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of Yahweh there.(B)

Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. 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) 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)

Then 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.[b] 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 Jordan Valley(F) as far as[c] 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 Jordan Valley 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 of the valley and set up his tent near Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning greatly[d] 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 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.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 13:2 Lit heavy
  2. Genesis 13:8 Lit brothers
  3. Genesis 13:10 Lit Valley as you go to
  4. Genesis 13:13 Lit evil and sinful

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