So Abram went up from Egypt: some modern versions consider verse 1 to be a consequence of 12.20 and therefore keep it in the same paragraph as 12.20. It is also possible to begin a new episode without reference to the previous action, and this is what Good News Translation and others do, with “Abram went north….” Bible en français courant relates 13.1 to the previous narrative and places it with chapter 12. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy introduces 13.1 with a time clause, “When Abram left Egypt with his wife and all he had….” All of these are possible ways to begin Gen 13.1. Some languages may wish to make the connection with 12.20 stronger by saying, for example, “After Abram and Sarai had been sent away by the king of Egypt….”

Went up from Egypt: went up is the opposite of the expression used in 12.10. See there for comments. Good News Translation, which had “went … south” in 12.20, now says “went north.” However, southern Canaan is east of Egypt, and so the error in Good News Translation needs to be adjusted to “went east,” if translators wish to follow that version. Many languages will not use the terms “up” and “down” to describe direction in the movement between Egypt and Canaan, but may say, for example, “left Egypt and went back” or “returned to the Negeb.” A translation that is typical of many says “went out of Egypt traveling east, and came back to the southern part of Canaan.”

He and his wife, and all that he had has the same sense as expressed in 12.5. All that he had means “all his possessions” or “everything he owned” (Good News Translation).

And Lot with him: Lot was last mentioned 12.4 as accompanying Abram. In the episode that tells what happened in Egypt, Lot was not mentioned. Into the Negeb refers to the place where Abram, Lot, and all those who accompany them go. For comments on Negeb see 12.9.

Revised Standard Version has followed the Hebrew word order in this verse and as a result constructs an awkward English sentence. A clearer rendering is “Abram took his wife, his nephew Lot, and everything he owned and left Egypt. They returned to the Negeb desert.” Good News Translation, which translated Negeb as “southern part of Canaan” in 12.9, uses the same expression here.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .