Since the land could not support both Lot's and Abram's family, they each went their own way. Even though good land was not plentiful, Abram allowed Lot to choose the better land because he trusted in God to fulfill his promises. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#trust and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#fulfill and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise)
God made a covenant with Abram. This covenant was not conditioned upon anything that Abram needed to do, but the fulfillment of its promises is conditioned upon the actions of each generation of his descendants. It has not yet been fulfilled in its entirety. This chapter continues the covenant which began in the previous chapter. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant)
Abram would have built an altar in order to offer sacrifices to Yahweh. There is an implicit understanding that building an altar was an act of worship. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"left" or "departed from"
The Negev was a desert region in southern Canaan, east of Egypt. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "went back to the Negev desert" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Abram had many livestock, much silver, and much gold"
Abram and his family traveled by stages, going from place to place. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "They continued on their journey" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Translators may add a footnote that says "See Genesis 12:8." The time of his travel can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "to the place where he had set up his tent before he went to Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"prayed in the name of Yahweh" or "worshiped Yahweh." See how you translated this in Genesis 12:8.
This word is used to show what follows is background information to help the reader understand the events that follow. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
There was not enough grazing land and water for all their animals.
This includes livestock, which need pasture and water.
"could not live together"
This is another reason that the land could not support them all.
"Let's not quarrel"
arguments or fights
"let's stop the men who take care of our animals from quarreling"
"because we are family"
"kinsmen" or "relatives." Lot was Abraham's nephew.
This rhetorical question can be translated as a positive statement. Alternate translation: "The whole land is available for you to use." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Abraham was speaking kindly to Lot and encouraging him to do something that would help them both. "Let's separate."
Possible meanings are 1) "If you go one way, then I will go the other" or 2) "If you go to the north, I will go to the south." Abram let Lot choose the part of the land he wanted, and Abram would take what remained.
This refers to the general region of the Jordan River.
"had much water"
"like the garden of Yahweh or like the land of Egypt." These were two different places.
This is another name for the garden of Eden.
Use the same word for "garden" as you used in Genesis 2:8.
This anticipates something that would happen later. It is important here because it explains why Lot settled in a region that later was not fertile.
"the kinsmen" or "the families." This refers to Lot and Abram with their households.
"Abram made his home" or "Abram stayed"
"the land of the Canaanites"
Possible meanings are 1) "He set up his tents near Sodom" or 2) "He moved his tents around in an area that reached all the way to Sodom."
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"after Lot left Abraham"
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This is a simile. God is saying that he will give Abram very many descendants. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
"walk around all over the whole land"
This was the name of the man who owned the oak trees. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This is the name of a place. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"an altar for worshiping Yahweh"