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So Abram went up out of Egypt into the land of the Negeb, with his wife and all that he had, and Lot went with him.
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Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
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And he journeyed from place to place, from the land of the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
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to the place of the altar which he had made there at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
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Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
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But the land was not able to support them while they lived together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
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And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites dwelt in the land.
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Then Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives.
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Is not the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right; or if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
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And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar. — This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. —
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So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from one another.
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Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, but Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom.
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Now the men of Sodom were wicked, and great sinners against the LORD.
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After Lot had separated from him, the LORD said to Abram, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,
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for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.
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And I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring also could be counted.
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Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth, for I will give it to you.”
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Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
🛤️ Summary of Genesis 13
Abram returned from Egypt to the land of Negeb, then to Bethel, where he had earlier built an altar. There, Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Abram and his nephew Lot had so many livestock that the land was not large enough for both of them. A dispute arose between their herdsmen.
Abram showed humility and love by letting Lot choose first which region he wanted. Lot chose the Jordan Valley, which was fertile and beautiful, but near Sodom, a city full of wickedness.
After Lot separated, the Lord reaffirmed His promise to Abram — that his offspring would be as numerous as the dust of the earth, and that all the land he saw would belong to him.
Abram then moved to Hebron, built an altar, and lived by the oaks of Mamre.
📖 Key Lessons
- Trusting the Lord is more important than pursuing worldly gain.
- Abram’s humility brought peace and opened the way for blessing.
- What looks good outwardly (as with Lot) is not always right spiritually.
- God confirms His promise to those who trust in Him.
- Abram shows that true faith is seen in actions and in our attitude toward others.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- Abram was not selfish, because he knew it is the Lord who blesses, not fertile land.
- Lot pictures one who relies on his own judgment and ignores the spiritual condition of his surroundings.
- Building an altar shows a life rooted in worship and surrender to God.
- The Lord’s promise is progressive — revealed step by step according to our faith.
