PARDON ME for feeding you so many maps lately. But that’s what I’m working on at the moment: maps for all 50 chapters of Genesis, in the Casual English Bible.
I spent yesterday creating this view of the Jordan River Valley because I was working with the story of Abraham and his nephew Lot parting company. They had been living together in an extended family for well over half a century. But their herds and flocks got so large that the pastures couldn’t handle them all at once.
Abraham graciously gave his nephew first pick of the land.
Here’s the story:
“Abram told Lot, ‘We’re family. There should not be any bickering between you and me or between your servants and mine.
Why don’t we give ourselves some elbowroom. This whole region is ours for the grazing. You go in one direction and I’ll go in the other.’
Lot took a good look around and saw that the Jordan River Valley in the direction of Zoar looked like the perfect place—much like the Nile River Valley. It seemed like a garden good enough for the LORD. This was before the LORD wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lot chose the entire Jordan River Valley, east of where they were camping at the time. And that’s where he moved. Abram and Lot parted company.
Abram stayed west of the river, camping in the fields of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities on the plain in the sprawling valley. He pitched his tents as far south as Sodom.
The people of Sodom were a poor excuse of human beings. Terrible sinners against the LORD.”
Genesis 13:8-13, Casual English Bible
Sounds like trouble ahead.
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