Abram and Lot Part Ways
Abram comes up from Egypt with his household and possessions, travels back toward Bethel, and returns to the altar he built before. There he calls on the name of the LORD again.
S1o Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev— he and his wife and all his possessions— and Lot was with him. 2And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold. 3From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched, 4to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Lot also has flocks, herds, and tents, and together their possessions outgrow the land's capacity. Conflict rises between their herdsmen while other peoples already dwell in the land.
5Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist. 7And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.
Abram asks that there be no strife between them because they are kin. He opens the whole land before Lot and offers him the first choice, keeping peace ahead of claim.
8So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen. 9Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself 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.”