c. 2000 BC

Abraham's Journey

Follow Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran, into Canaan, down to Egypt and back, ending on Mount Moriah — with distances, dates and the Genesis passage for every stop.

Ur of the ChaldeansHaranShechemBethelThe NegevEgyptHebronBeershebaMount Moriah
Ur of the Chaldeans0 km of 2,673 km

Abram's family home in southern Mesopotamia, a wealthy city of the moon god.

Stops
10
Total distance
2,673 km
Travel estimate
about 4 months of travel
Passages
The whole journey

Timeline of the journey

  1. Abram's family home in southern Mesopotamia, a wealthy city of the moon god.

    Genesis 11:31

  2. Terah settles here and dies; the call to leave comes to Abram.

    Genesis 12:1

  3. First stop in Canaan. God promises the land to his offspring; Abram builds an altar.

    Genesis 12:6

  4. Camps between Bethel and Ai, builds another altar and calls on the LORD.

    Genesis 12:8

  5. Moves south through the dry country as famine tightens.

    Genesis 12:9

  6. Famine drives the family into Egypt, where Abram passes Sarai off as his sister.

    Genesis 12:10

  7. Returns to the altar he built; he and Lot part ways here.

    Genesis 13:3

  8. Settles by the oaks of Mamre — his long-term home and burial place.

    Genesis 13:18

  9. Plants a tamarisk, digs a well and makes a treaty with Abimelech.

    Genesis 21:33

  10. The testing of Abraham: Isaac bound, and a ram provided instead.

    Genesis 22:2

Read it alongside the map

Open Genesis 12 in the reader — the places on this map appear as live references in the text, with the same maps, timelines and connections beside the verse.

Read Genesis 12