Abram and Lot Separate

13 Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev Desert. He took his wife and everything he had. Lot went with him. 2Abram had become very rich. He had a lot of livestock and silver and gold.

3From the Negev Desert, he went from place to place until he came to Bethel. He came to a place between Bethel and Ai. That’s where his tent had been earlier. 4He had also built an altar there. He worshiped the Lord there.

5Lot was moving around with Abram. Lot also had flocks and herds and tents.

6But the land didn’t have enough food for both of them. They had large herds and many servants. So they weren’t able to stay together. 7The people who took care of Abram’s herds and those who took care of Lot’s herds began to argue.

The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

8So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not argue with each other. The people who take care of your herds and those who take care of mine shouldn’t argue with one another. 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.”

10Lot looked up. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord. It was like the land of Egypt near Zoar. That was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

11So Lot chose the whole Jordan River valley for himself. Then he started out toward the east.

The two men separated. 12Abram lived in the land of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities of the Jordan River valley. He set up his tents near Sodom.

13The men of Sodom were evil. They were sinning greatly against the Lord.

14The Lord spoke to Abram after Lot had left him. He said, “Look up from where you are. Look north and south. Look east and west. 15I will give you all of the land that you see. I will give it to you and your children after you forever.

16“I will make your children like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your children can be counted. 17Go. Walk through the land. See how long and wide it is. I am giving it to you.”

18So Abram moved his tents. He went to live near the large trees of Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar to honor the Lord.