Abram and Lot Part Ways

1So 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. 2And Abram (exalted father) had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.

3From 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, 4to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram (exalted father) called on the name of the LORD {YHWH}.

5Now Lot (covering), who was traveling with Abram (exalted father), also had flocks and herds and tents. 6But 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. 7And 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.

8So 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. 9Is 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.”

Lot Proceeds toward Sodom

10And 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).) 11So 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.

12Abram (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). 13But the men of Sodom (burning) were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD {YHWH}.

God Renews the Promise to Abram

14After Lot (covering) had departed, the LORD {YHWH} said to Abram (exalted father), “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, 15for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever <Gal 3:16>.a

16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. 17Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”

18So Abram (exalted father) moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks (Terebinths)b of Mamre (strength / fatness) at Hebron (association), where he built an altar to the LORD {YHWH}.