Genesis 12
12The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you.H3068H559H87H3212H776H4138H1H1004H776H72002I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.H6213H1419H1471H1288H1431H8034H1431H12933I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."H1288H1288H779H7043H4940H127H12884So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.H87H3212H3068H1696H3876H3212H87H7657H8141H2568H8141H1121H3318H27715He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan,H87H3947H8297H802H3876H251H1121H7399H7408H5315H6213H2771H3318H3212H776H3667H776H3667H9356Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.H87H5674H776H4725H7927H436H4176H3669H227H7767Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your descendants." And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him.H3068H7200H87H559H2233H5414H2063H776H1129H4196H3068H72008After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the LORD, and he worshiped the LORD.H6275H2022H6924H1008H5186H168H1008H3220H5857H6924H1129H4196H3068H7121H8034H30689Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.H87H5265H1980H5265H504510At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.H7458H776H87H3381H4714H1481H7458H3515H77611As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, "Look, you are a very beautiful woman.H834H7126H935H4714H559H8297H802H2009H4994H3045H3303H802H475812When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!'H4713H7200H559H802H2026H242113So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you."H559H4994H269H4616H3190H5315H2421H155814And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai's beauty.H87H935H4714H4713H7200H802H3966H330315When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.H8269H6547H7200H1984H413H6547H802H3947H6547H100416Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.H3190H87H3190H6629H1241H2543H5650H8198H860H158117But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram's wife.H3068H5060H6547H1004H1419H5061H1697H8297H87H80218So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. "What have you done to me?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?H6547H7121H87H559H6213H5046H80219Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!"H559H269H3947H802H802H3947H321220Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.H6547H6680H582H7971H802
Genesis 13
13So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned.H87H5927H4714H802H3876H50452(Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.)H87H3966H3513H4735H3701H20913From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before.H3212H4550H5045H1008H4725H168H1961H8462H1008H58574This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the LORD again.H4725H4196H6213H7223H87H7121H8034H30685Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents.H3876H1980H854H87H6629H1241H1686But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together.H776H5375H3427H3162H7399H7227H3201H3427H31627So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)H7379H7462H87H4735H7462H3876H4735H3669H6522H3427H7768Finally Abram said to Lot, "Let's not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!H87H559H3876H1961H408H4808H7462H7462H582H2519The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I'll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I'll go to the left."H776H6440H6504H8040H3231H3225H804110Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)H3876H5375H5869H7200H3603H3383H4945H6440H3068H7843H5467H6017H1588H3068H776H4714H935H682011Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.H3876H977H3603H3383H3876H5265H6924H6504H376H25112So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.H87H3427H776H3667H3876H3427H5892H3603H167H5704H546713But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD.H582H5467H7451H2400H3068H396614After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, "Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.H3068H559H87H310H3876H6504H5375H5869H7200H4725H6828H5045H6924H322015I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.H776H7200H5414H2233H5704H576916And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!H7760H2233H6083H776H834H376H3201H4487H6083H776H2233H448717Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you."H6965H1980H776H753H7341H541418So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD.H87H167H935H3427H436H4471H2275H1129H4196H3068
Genesis 14
14About this time war broke out in the region. King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of GoiimH3117H569H4428H8152H746H4428H495H3540H4428H5867H8413H4428H14712fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).H6213H4421H854H1298H4428H5467H1306H4428H6017H8134H4428H126H8038H4428H6636H4428H1106H1931H68203This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea).H2266H6010H7708H1931H4417H32204For twelve years they had been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.H6240H8147H8141H5647H853H3540H7969H6240H8141H47755One year later Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived and defeated the Rephaites at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites at Ham, the Emites at Shaveh-kiriathaim,H6240H702H8141H935H3540H4428H5221H7497H6255H2104H1990H368H77416and the Horites at Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness.H2752H2042H8165H364H5921H40577Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.H7725H935H413H5880H6946H5221H7704H6003H567H3427H26888Then the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea.H3318H4428H5467H4428H6017H4428H126H4428H6636H4428H1106H1931H6820H6186H4421H6010H77089They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five.H3540H4428H5867H8413H4428H1471H569H4428H8152H746H4428H495H702H4428H256810As it happened, the valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains.H6010H7708H875H875H2564H4428H5467H6017H5127H5307H7604H5127H202211The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies.H3947H7399H5467H6017H400H321212They also captured Lot—Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom—and carried off everything he owned.H3947H3876H87H251H1121H3427H5467H7399H321213But one of Lot's men escaped and reported everything to Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram's allies.H935H6412H5046H87H5680H7931H436H4471H567H251H812H251H6063H1167H1285H8714When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer's army until he caught up with them at Dan.H87H8085H251H7617H7324H2593H3211H1004H7969H3967H6240H8083H7291H183515There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer's army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.H2505H5650H3915H5221H7291H2327H8040H183416Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.H7725H7399H7725H251H3876H7399H802H597117After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).H4428H5467H3318H7125H310H7725H5221H3540H4428H6010H7740H1931H4428H601018And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine.H4442H4428H8004H3318H3899H3196H3548H5945H41019Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.H1288H559H1288H87H5945H410H7069H8064H77620And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.H1288H5945H410H4042H6862H3027H5414H464321The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered."H4428H5467H559H87H5414H5315H3947H739922Abram replied to the king of Sodom, "I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,H87H559H4428H5467H7311H3027H3068H5945H410H7069H8064H77623that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, 'I am the one who made Abram rich.'H518H2339H5275H8288H518H3947H559H6238H87H623824I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre."H1107H834H5288H398H2506H582H1980H854H6063H812H4471H1992H3947H2506
Genesis 15
15Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great."H310H1697H1697H3068H1961H87H4236H559H3372H87H4043H3966H7235H7939 2But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don't even have a son? Since you've given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.H87H559H136H3069H5414H1980H6185H1121H4943H1004H1931H461H1834 3You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir."H87H559H5414H3808H2233H1121H1004H3423 4Then the LORD said to him, "No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir."H1697H3068H559H3423H3318H4578H3423 5Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!"H3318H2351H559H5027H8064H5608H3556H3201H5608H559H3541H2233 6And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.H539H3068H2803H6666 7Then the LORD told him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession."H559H3068H3318H218H3778H5414H776H3423 8But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?"H559H136H3069H4100H3045H3423 9The LORD told him, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."H559H3947H5697H8027H5795H8027H352H8027H8449H1469 10So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.H3947H1334H8432H5414H376H1335H7125H7453H6833H1334 11Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.H5861H3381H6297H87H5380 12As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.H8121H935H8639H5307H87H367H1419H2825H5307 13Then the LORD said to Abram, "You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.H559H87H3045H3045H2233H1616H776H5647H6031H702H3967H8141 14But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth.H1471H5647H1777H310H3651H3318H1419H7399 15(As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.)H935H1H7965H6912H2896H7872 16After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction."H7243H1755H2008H7725H5771H567H2008H8003 17After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses.H8121H935H5939H6227H8574H784H3940H5674H996H1506 18So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day and said, "I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—H1931H3117H3068H3772H1285H87H559H2233H5414H776H5104H4714H1419H5104H5104H6578 19the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,H7017H7074H6935 20Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,H2850H6522H7497 21Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites."H567H3669H1622H2983
Dublin, OH
." And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him.H3068
