{"id":56385,"date":"2026-02-08T00:01:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T05:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=56385"},"modified":"2026-02-25T08:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:38:40","slug":"abraham-and-lot-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/people-cultures-in-the-bible\/people-in-the-bible\/abraham-and-lot-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Abraham and Lot in the Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Abraham\u2019s Camels.<\/strong> Did camels exist in Biblical times? Camels appear with Abraham in some Biblical texts\u2014and depictions thereof, such as The Caravan of Abram<\/em> by James Tissot, based on Genesis 12. When were camels first domesticated? Although camel domestication had not taken place by the time of Abraham in the land of Canaan, it had in Mesopotamia. Photo: PD-1923.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In the Bible, Abraham\u2019s nephew Lot accompanies him from Haran to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12). However, Abraham and Lot<\/a> eventually separate because the land cannot support both of their possessions, animals, and servants. Abraham allows Lot to pick first the area where he would like to settle. After surveying the surroundings, Lot chooses the well-watered plain of the Jordan River to the east (Genesis 13:11). Abraham then settles in Canaan west of the Jordan River. Later we learn that Lot is living in Sodom, one of the cities of the Jordan plain<\/a> (Genesis 14:12).<\/p>\n

This Biblical episode seems fairly straightforward. A modern reader may consider Lot\u2019s choice to be neutral, perhaps prudent, or maybe even selfish\u2014but probably not wicked. It may then come as a surprise that ancient Jewish and Christian interpreters often attributed sinister motives to Lot\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

Dan Rickett investigates ancient interpretations of Lot\u2019s character in his Biblical Views column \u201cSafeguarding Abraham<\/a>,\u201d published in the January\/February 2019 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em><\/a>. He shows that ancient interpreters frequently painted Lot as greedy and unscrupulous\u2014a foil to Abraham\u2019s righteousness.<\/p>\n

Rickett argues that this was done to safeguard Abraham. In the Bible, God promises to give the land of Canaan to Abraham\u2019s descendants. Shortly thereafter, Abraham offers to share it with Lot. However, as Rickett points out, this creates a dilemma since \u201cLot is not part of God\u2019s promise to Abraham.\u201d<\/p>\n

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FREE ebook: Exploring Genesis: The Bible\u2019s Ancient Traditions in Context<\/strong>\r\nMesopotamian creation myths, Joseph\u2019s relationship with Egyptian temple practices and 3 tales of Ur, the birthplace of Abraham.\r\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t