Genesis 13:8-18

New International Reader's Version

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.