Genesis 13: Abram and Lot part ways
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What happens?
Abram comes back from Egypt very rich, and Lot has many flocks too, so their herdsmen quarrel. Abram lets Lot choose first, and Lot takes the well-watered plain of the Jordan, moving as far as Sodom. Then Yahweh tells Abram to look in every direction: all the land he sees will belong to him and his offspring.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. Abram speaks to Lot (verses 8 and 9). God speaks in 4 of the 18 verses: his promise of the land to Abram after Lot has left. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South.
In plain English: Abram went up out of Egypt into the South (the Negev), with his wife, everything he had, and Lot.
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2Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
In plain English: Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
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3He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
In plain English: He traveled in stages from the South as far as Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been at first,
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4to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Yahweh’s name.
In plain English: to the place where he had built the altar before. There Abram called on Yahweh's name.
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5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.
In plain English: Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents.
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6The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together.
In plain English: The land could not support them both living together, because they owned so much that they could not stay together.
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7There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.
In plain English: Quarrels broke out between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.
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8Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives.
In plain English: Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there be no quarrel between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, because we are relatives.
The Hebrew word: "Relatives" is achim, "brothers". Lot is really Abram's nephew, his brother's son ().
How it is translated: In its 572 verses this Bible says "brother" or "brothers" about 9 times out of 10, and "relative" or "relatives" in 28. The same word is behind "his relative" Lot in .
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9Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
In plain English: The whole land is in front of you, isn't it? Please separate 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."
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10Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar.
In plain English: Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go toward Zoar. This was before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Good to know: The text looks ahead to , when Yahweh destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. puts "Eden" and "the garden of Yahweh" side by side.
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11So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one another.
In plain English: So Lot chose the plain of the Jordan for himself and traveled east, and they separated from each other.
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12Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
In plain English: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived among the cities of the plain, moving his tent as far as Sodom.
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13Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
In plain English: Now the men of Sodom were very wicked and sinful against Yahweh.
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14Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,God speaks
In plain English: After Lot had separated from him, Yahweh said to Abram, "Look up from the place where you are, and look north and south, east and west,
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15for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever.God speaks
In plain English: because I will give all the land you see to you and to your offspring forever.
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16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.God speaks
In plain English: I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth: if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted too.
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17Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.”God speaks
In plain English: Get up and walk through the land, its length and its width, because I will give it to you."
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18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.
In plain English: Abram moved his tent and came to live by the oaks (or great trees) of Mamre, at Hebron, and he built an altar there to Yahweh.
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