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Genesis 13-15
Common English Bible
Genesis 13-15
Common English Bible
Abram and Lot separate
13 Abram went up from Egypt toward the arid southern plain with his wife, with everything he had, and with Lot. 2 Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. 3 Abram traveled, making and breaking camp, from the arid southern plain to Bethel and to the sacred place there, where he had first pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai, 4 that is, to the place at which he had earlier built the altar. There he worshipped in the Lord’s name. 5 Now Lot, who traveled with Abram, also had flocks, cattle, and tents. 6 They had so many possessions between them that the land couldn’t support both of them. They could no longer live together. 7 Conflicts broke out between those herding Abram’s livestock and those herding Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.
8 Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have disputes between me and you and between our herders since we are relatives. 9 Isn’t the whole land in front of you? Let’s separate. If you go north, I will go south; and if you go south, I will go north.” 10 Lot looked up and saw the entire Jordan Valley. All of it was well irrigated, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar (this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah). 11 So Lot chose for himself the entire Jordan Valley. Lot set out toward the east, and they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled near the cities of the valley and pitched his tent close to Sodom. 13 The citizens of Sodom were very evil and sinful against the Lord.
14 After Lot separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “From the place where you are standing, look up and gaze to the north, south, east, and west, 15 because all the land that you see I give you and your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth. If someone could count the bits of dust on the earth, then they could also count your descendants. 17 Stand up and walk around through the length and breadth of the land because I am giving it to you.” 18 So Abram packed his tent and went and settled by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord.
Abram rescues Lot
14 While Amraphel was king of Shinar, Ellasar’s King Arioch, Elam’s King Chedorlaomer, and Goiim’s King Tidal 2 declared war on Sodom’s King Bera, Gomorrah’s King Birsha, Admah’s King Shinab, Zeboiim’s King Shemeber, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar. 3 These latter kings formed an alliance in the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea[a]). 4 For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they revolted. 5 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings of his alliance came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in the mountains of Seir as far as El-paran near the desert. 7 Then they turned back, came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
8 Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bera (that is, Zoar) took up battle positions in the Siddim Valley 9 against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar, four kings against five.
10 Now the Siddim Valley was filled with tar pits. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah retreated, they fell into them; and the rest fled to the mountains. 11 They took everything from Sodom and Gomorrah, including its food supplies, and left. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew who lived in Sodom, and everything he owned, and took off. 13 When a survivor arrived, he told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks of the Amorite Mamre, who was the brother of Eshcol and Aner, Abram’s treaty partners.
14 When Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he took all of the loyal men born in his household, three hundred eighteen, and went after them as far as Dan. 15 During the night, he and his servants divided themselves up against them, attacked, and chased them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all of the looted property, together with his relative Lot and Lot’s property, wives, and people.
Abram blessed by Melchizedek
17 After Abram returned from his attack on Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley) to meet him. 18 Now Melchizedek the king of Salem and the priest of El Elyon[b] had brought bread and wine, 19 and he blessed him,
“Bless Abram by El Elyon,
creator of heaven and earth;
20 bless El Elyon,
who gave you the victory over your enemies.”
Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and take the property for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I promised the Lord, El Elyon, creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I wouldn’t take even a thread or a sandal strap from anything that was yours so that you couldn’t say, ‘I’m the one who made Abram rich.’ 24 The only exception is that the young men may keep whatever they have taken to eat, and the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—may keep their share.”
God’s covenant with Abram
15 After these events, the Lord’s word came to Abram in a vision, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your protector.[c] Your reward will be very great.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you possibly give me, since I still have no children? The head of my household is Eliezer, a man from Damascus.”[d] 3 He continued, “Since you haven’t given me any children, the head of my household will be my heir.”
4 The Lord’s word came immediately to him, “This man will not be your heir. Your heir will definitely be your very own biological child.” 5 Then he brought Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you think you can count them.” He continued, “This is how many children you will have.” 6 Abram trusted the Lord, and the Lord recognized Abram’s high moral character.
7 He said to Abram, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
8 But Abram said, “Lord God, how do I know that I will actually possess it?”
9 He said, “Bring me a three-year-old female calf, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a dove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He took all of these animals, split them in half, and laid the halves facing each other, but he didn’t split the birds. 11 When vultures swooped down on the carcasses, Abram waved them off. 12 After the sun set, Abram slept deeply. A terrifying and deep darkness settled over him.
13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Have no doubt that your descendants will live as immigrants in a land that isn’t their own, where they will be oppressed slaves for four hundred years. 14 But after I punish the nation they serve, they will leave it with great wealth. 15 As for you, you will join your ancestors in peace and be buried after a good long life. 16 The fourth generation will return here since the Amorites’ wrongdoing won’t have reached its peak until then.”
17 After the sun had set and darkness had deepened, a smoking vessel with a fiery flame passed between the split-open animals. 18 That day the Lord cut a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from Egypt’s river to the great Euphrates, 19 together with the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Footnotes
- Genesis 14:3 Or Salt Sea
- Genesis 14:18 Or God Most High
- Genesis 15:1 Or shield or benefactor
- Genesis 15:2 Heb uncertain
Genesis 13-15
New International Version
Genesis 13-15
New International Version
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. 2 Abram had become very wealthy(D) in livestock(E) and in silver and gold.
3 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 4 and where he had first built an altar.(I) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.(J)
5 Now Lot,(K) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 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) 7 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.
8 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) 9 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)
Abram Rescues Lot
14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[b](AO) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer(AP) king of Elam(AQ) and Tidal king of Goyim, 2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,(AR) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).(AS) 3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim(AT) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley(AU)). 4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer,(AV) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer(AW) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites(AX) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites(AY) in Shaveh Kiriathaim 6 and the Horites(AZ) in the hill country of Seir,(BA) as far as El Paran(BB) near the desert. 7 Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),(BC) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,(BD) as well as the Amorites(BE) who were living in Hazezon Tamar.(BF)
8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah,(BG) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim(BH) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)(BI) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim(BJ) 9 against Kedorlaomer(BK) king of Elam,(BL) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim(BM) was full of tar(BN) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah(BO) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.(BP) 11 The four kings seized all the goods(BQ) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot(BR) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.(BS) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre(BT) the Amorite, a brother[c] of Eshkol(BU) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative(BV) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained(BW) men born in his household(BX) and went in pursuit as far as Dan.(BY) 15 During the night Abram divided his men(BZ) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.(CA) 16 He recovered(CB) all the goods(CC) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer(CD) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom(CE) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).(CF)
18 Then Melchizedek(CG) king of Salem(CH) brought out bread(CI) and wine.(CJ) He was priest of God Most High,(CK) 19 and he blessed Abram,(CL) saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,(CM)
Creator of heaven and earth.(CN)
20 And praise be to God Most High,(CO)
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(CP)
21 The king of Sodom(CQ) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods(CR) for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,(CS) “With raised hand(CT) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,(CU) Creator of heaven and earth,(CV) 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you,(CW) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.(CX) Let them have their share.”
The Lord’s Covenant With Abram
15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram(CY) in a vision:(CZ)
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,(DD) what can you give me since I remain childless(DE) and the one who will inherit[f] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?(DF)” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant(DG) in my household(DH) will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.(DI)” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars(DJ)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[g] be.”(DK)
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.(DL)
7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out(DM) of Ur of the Chaldeans(DN) to give you this land to take possession of it.”(DO)
8 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,(DP) how can I know(DQ) that I will gain possession of it?”(DR)
9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer,(DS) a goat and a ram, each three years old,(DT) along with a dove and a young pigeon.(DU)”
10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other;(DV) the birds, however, he did not cut in half.(DW) 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses,(DX) but Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep,(DY) and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years(DZ) your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved(EA) and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out(EB) with great possessions.(EC) 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors(ED) in peace and be buried at a good old age.(EE) 16 In the fourth generation(EF) your descendants will come back here,(EG) for the sin of the Amorites(EH) has not yet reached its full measure.”
17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch(EI) appeared and passed between the pieces.(EJ) 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram(EK) and said, “To your descendants I give this land,(EL) from the Wadi[h] of Egypt(EM) to the great river, the Euphrates(EN)— 19 the land of the Kenites,(EO) Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites,(EP) Perizzites,(EQ) Rephaites,(ER) 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”(ES)
Footnotes
- Genesis 13:15 Or seed; also in verse 16
- Genesis 14:1 That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
- Genesis 14:13 Or a relative; or an ally
- Genesis 15:1 Or sovereign
- Genesis 15:1 Or shield; / your reward will be very great
- Genesis 15:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Genesis 15:5 Or seed
- Genesis 15:18 Or river
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.