Genesis 13:1-15:6

New International Version

Abram and Lot Separate

13 So Abram went up from Egypt^(A) to the Negev,^(B) with his wife and everything he had, and Lot^(C) went with him. ² Abram had become very wealthy^(D) in livestock^(E) and in silver and gold.

³ From the Negev^(F) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel,^(G) to the place between Bethel and Ai^(H) where his tent had been earlier ⁴ and where he had first built an altar.^(I) There Abram called on the name of the Lord.^(J)

⁵ Now Lot,^(K) who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. ⁶ But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.^{(L) 7} And quarreling^(M) arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites^(N) and Perizzites^(O) were also living in the land^(P) at that time.

⁸ So Abram said to Lot,^(Q) “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me,^(R) or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.^{(S) 9} Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”^(T)

¹⁰ Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain^(U) of the Jordan toward Zoar^(V) was well watered, like the garden of the Lord,^(W) like the land of Egypt.^(X) (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom^(Y) and Gomorrah.)^{(Z) 11} So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: ¹² Abram lived in the land of Canaan,^(AA) while Lot^(AB) lived among the cities of the plain^(AC) and pitched his tents near Sodom.^{(AD) 13} Now the people of Sodom^(AE) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.^(AF)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west.^{(AG) 15} All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring^[a] forever.^{(AH) 16} I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.^{(AI) 17} Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land,^(AJ) for I am giving it to you.”^(AK)

¹⁸ So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre^(AL) at Hebron,^(AM) where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.^(AN)

Abram Rescues Lot

14 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,^[b](AO) Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer^(AP) king of Elam^(AQ) and Tidal king of Goyim, ² these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,^(AR) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).^{(AS) 3} All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim^(AT) (that is, the Dead Sea Valley^(AU)). ⁴ For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer,^(AV) but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

⁵ In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer^(AW) and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites^(AX) in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites^(AY) in Shaveh Kiriathaim ⁶ and the Horites^(AZ) in the hill country of Seir,^(BA) as far as El Paran^(BB) near the desert. ⁷ Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh),^(BC) and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites,^(BD) as well as the Amorites^(BE) who were living in Hazezon Tamar.^(BF)

⁸ Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah,^(BG) the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim^(BH) and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)^(BI) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim^{(BJ) 9} against Kedorlaomer^(BK) king of Elam,^(BL) Tidal king of Goyim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. ¹⁰ Now the Valley of Siddim^(BM) was full of tar^(BN) pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah^(BO) fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.^{(BP) 11} The four kings seized all the goods^(BQ) of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. ¹² They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot^(BR) and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

¹³ A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.^(BS) Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre^(BT) the Amorite, a brother^[c] of Eshkol^(BU) and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his relative^(BV) had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained^(BW) men born in his household^(BX) and went in pursuit as far as Dan.^{(BY) 15} During the night Abram divided his men^(BZ) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.^{(CA) 16} He recovered^(CB) all the goods^(CC) and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

¹⁷ After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer^(CD) and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom^(CE) came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).^(CF)

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek^(CG) king of Salem^(CH) brought out bread^(CI) and wine.^(CJ) He was priest of God Most High,^{(CK) 19} and he blessed Abram,^(CL) saying,

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.^(CP)

²¹ The king of Sodom^(CQ) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods^(CR) for yourself.”

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom,^(CS) “With raised hand^(CT) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,^(CU) Creator of heaven and earth,^{(CV) 23} that I will accept nothing belonging to you,^(CW) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre.^(CX) Let them have their share.”

The Lord’s Covenant With Abram

15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram^(CY) in a vision:^(CZ)

² But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,^(DD) what can you give me since I remain childless^(DE) and the one who will inherit^[f] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?^(DF)” ³ And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant^(DG) in my household^(DH) will be my heir.”

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.^(DI)” ⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars^(DJ)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring^[g] be.”^(DK)

⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.^(DL)