Genesis 13:1-13 ▼

1 So Abram (exalted father) went up out of Egypt (land of bondage) into the Negev (southland)—he and his wife and all his possessions—and Lot (covering) was with him.

2 And Abram (exalted father) had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.

3 From the Negev (southland) he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel (house of God), until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai (heap of ruins) where his tent had formerly been pitched,

4 to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram (exalted father) called on the name of the LORD {YHWH}.

5 Now Lot (covering), who was traveling with Abram (exalted father), also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist.

7 And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram (exalted father) and the herdsmen of Lot (covering). At that time the Canaanites (merchants) and the Perizzites (villagers) were also living in the land.

8 So Abram (exalted father) said to Lot (covering), “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen.

9 Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself 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 And Lot (covering) looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan (flowing down), all the way to Zoar (insignificance), was well watered like the garden of the LORD {YHWH}, like the land of Egypt (land of bondage). (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom (burning) and Gomorrah (submersion).)

11 So Lot (covering) chose the whole plain of the Jordan (flowing down) for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company.

12 Abram (exalted father) lived in the land of Canaan (lowland), but Lot (covering) settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom (burning).

13 But the men of Sodom (burning) were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD {YHWH}.