Genesis 13:1-18

Abram took his wife and all that he owned, and left Egypt. They returned to the southern desert region, and Lot went with them. Now Abram had become very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. And he journeyed on from place to place as far as the hill country region of Bethel. He returned to the place between Bethel and Ai where he had pitched his tent at the beginning. This was the place he had first built an altar to pray and worship YAHWEH. Now Lot, who accompanied Abram, was also rich and had accumulated flocks, herds, family, and servants. Arguments erupted between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen because the land could not support both living together, for their animals and possessions were too numerous. At that time, Canaanites and Perizzites were also in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not quarrel with each other, or between our herdsmen, since we are relatives. Look at the vast land that is in front of you! Let’s settle in different regions. If you choose the land on the left, then I’ll go right, and if you want land on the right, then I’ll go left.” Lot lifted his eyes and carefully surveyed the land around him all the way to Zoar. He noticed that the Jordan Valley was fertile and well-watered (this was before YAHWEH had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah). It looked beautiful, like the garden of YAHWEH, or like Egypt. So Lot chose to settle in the Jordan Valley. He departed toward the east, and the family split up and separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan while Lot settled in the cities of the lowlands, at a place near Sodom. Now, the people of Sodom were extremely wicked and rebelled against YAHWEH. After Lot separated from him, YAHWEH spoke to Abram, “Lift up your eyes and look around you to the north, the south, the east, and the west. As far as you can see in every direction is the land that I will give to you forever—to you and your seed. I will multiply them until they are as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could also be counted. Now, get up and walk through the land—its length and its breadth. All the land you walk upon will be my gift to you!” Abram moved his camp and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built another altar to YAHWEH.