Abram journeys to Egypt
12 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“[a]Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so [b]you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who [c]curses you I will [d]curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
4 So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the [e]persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they [f]set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the [g]oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your [h]descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. 8 Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the [i]Negev. 10 Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 It came about when he [j]came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a [k]beautiful woman; 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that [l]I may live on account of you.” 14 It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians [m]saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and [n]gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels. 17 But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, [o]here is your wife, take her and go.” 20 Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they [p]escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.
Footnotes
Genesis 12:1 Lit Go for yourself
Genesis 12:2 Lit be a blessing
Genesis 12:3 Or reviles
Genesis 12:3 Or bind under a curse
Genesis 12:5 Lit souls
Genesis 12:5 Lit went forth to go to
Genesis 12:6 Or terebinth
Genesis 12:7 Lit seed
Genesis 12:9 I.e. South country
Genesis 12:11 Lit drew near to enter
Genesis 12:11 Lit woman of beautiful appearance
Genesis 12:13 Lit my soul
Genesis 12:14 Lit saw the woman that she was
Genesis 12:16 Lit he had
Genesis 12:19 Or behold
Genesis 12:20 Lit sent
Abram and Lot
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13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the [a]Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.
2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. 3 He went [b]on his journeys from the [c]Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 And the land could not [d]sustain them [e]while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” 10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the [f]valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the [g]valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram [h]settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot [i]settled in the cities of the [j]valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked [a]exceedingly and sinners against the Lord. 14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your [l]descendants forever. 16 I will make your [m]descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your [n]descendants can also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the [o]oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Footnotes
Genesis 13:1 I.e. South country
Genesis 13:3 Lit by his stages
Genesis 13:3 I.e. South country
Genesis 13:6 Lit bear
Genesis 13:6 Lit to dwell
Genesis 13:10 Lit circle
Genesis 13:11 Lit circle
Genesis 13:12 Lit dwelt
Genesis 13:12 Lit dwelt
Genesis 13:12 Lit circle
Genesis 13:13 Lit wicked and sinners exceedingly
Genesis 13:15 Lit seed
Genesis 13:16 Lit seed
Genesis 13:16 Lit seed
Genesis 13:18 Or terebinths
War of the Kings
14 And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of [a]Goiim, 2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these [b]came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and [c]defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in [d]Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and [e]conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8 And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of [f]Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell [g]into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. 13 Then [h]a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was [i]living by the [j]oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were [k]allies with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his [l]relative had been taken captive, he [m]led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided [n]his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and [o]defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is [p]north of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his [q]relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.
God’s Promise to Abram
17 Then after his return from the [r]defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of [s]God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of [t]God Most High,
[u]Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be [v]God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
He gave him a tenth of all. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the [w]people to me and take the goods for yourself.” 22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have [x]sworn to the Lord [y]God Most High, [z]possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 [aa]I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”
Footnotes
Genesis 14:1 Or nations
Genesis 14:3 Lit joined together
Genesis 14:5 Lit smote
Genesis 14:5 Or the plain of Kiriathaim
Genesis 14:7 Lit smote
Genesis 14:9 Or nations
Genesis 14:10 Lit there
Genesis 14:13 Lit the
Genesis 14:13 Lit abiding
Genesis 14:13 Or terebinths
Genesis 14:13 Lit possessors of the covenant
Genesis 14:14 Lit brother
Genesis 14:14 Or mustered
Genesis 14:15 Lit himself
Genesis 14:15 Lit smote
Genesis 14:15 Lit on the left
Genesis 14:16 Lit brother
Genesis 14:17 Lit smiting
Genesis 14:18 Heb El Elyon
Genesis 14:19 Heb El Elyon
Genesis 14:19 Or Creator
Genesis 14:20 Heb El Elyon
Genesis 14:21 Lit soul
Genesis 14:22 Lit lifted up my hand
Genesis 14:22 Heb El Elyon
Genesis 14:22 Or Creator
Genesis 14:24 Lit Not to me except
Abram Promised a Son
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
[a]Your reward shall be very great.”
2 Abram said, “O Lord [b]God, what will You give me, since I [c]am childless, and the [d]heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “[e]Since You have given no [f]offspring to me, [g]one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own [h]body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your [i]descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to [j]possess it.” 8 He said, “O Lord [k]God, how may I know that I will [l]possess it?” 9 So He said to him, “[m]Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he [n]brought all these to Him and cut them [o]in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, [p]terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your [q]descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, [r]where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with [s]many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” 17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,
“To your [t]descendants I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”
Footnotes
Genesis 15:1 Or Your very great reward
Genesis 15:2 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
Genesis 15:2 Lit go
Genesis 15:2 Lit son of acquisition
Genesis 15:3 Lit Behold
Genesis 15:3 Lit seed
Genesis 15:3 Lit and behold, a son of
Genesis 15:4 Lit inward parts
Genesis 15:5 Lit seed
Genesis 15:7 Or inherit
Genesis 15:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
Genesis 15:8 Or inherit
Genesis 15:9 Lit Take
Genesis 15:10 Lit took
Genesis 15:10 Lit in the midst
Genesis 15:12 Or a terror of great darkness
Genesis 15:13 Lit seed
Genesis 15:13 Lit and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them
Genesis 15:14 Lit great
Genesis 15:18 Lit seed
Sarai and Hagar
16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will [a]obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had [b]lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your [c]arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her [d]sight. May the Lord judge between [e]you and me.” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your [f]power; do to her what is good in your [g]sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. 7 Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself [h]to her authority.” 10 Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your [i]descendants so that [j]they will be too many to count.” 11 The angel of the Lord said to her further,
“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name [k]Ishmael,
Because the Lord [l]has given heed to your affliction.
12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will [m]live [n]to the east of all his brothers.”
13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “[o]You are [p]a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even [q]remained alive here after seeing Him?” 14 Therefore the well was called [r]Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to [s]him.
Footnotes
Genesis 16:2 Lit be built from her
Genesis 16:3 Lit dwelt
Genesis 16:5 Lit bosom
Genesis 16:5 Lit eyes
Genesis 16:5 Lit me and you
Genesis 16:6 Lit hand
Genesis 16:6 Lit eyes
Genesis 16:9 Lit under her hands
Genesis 16:10 Lit seed
Genesis 16:10 Or it shall not be counted for multitude
Genesis 16:11 I.e. God hears
Genesis 16:11 Lit has heard
Genesis 16:12 Lit dwell
Genesis 16:12 Lit before the face of; or in defiance of
Genesis 16:13 Or You, God, see me
Genesis 16:13 Heb Elroi
Genesis 16:13 Lit seen here after the one who saw me
Genesis 16:14 I.e. the well of the living one who sees me
Genesis 16:16 Lit Abram
