Explore Abraham - Journey on the Map

Follow Abraham's Biblical Journey

Canaan

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Abraham

Left Ur for Canaan, stopped at Haran

GEN.11.31

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Events

The call of AbrahamGEN 12:1

The promise at ShechemGEN 12:6

Sodom and Gomorrah destroyedGEN 19:24

The binding of IsaacGEN 22:2

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Updated on August 15, 2026

Abraham

Abraham, originally named Abram, is considered the father of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths. Called by God to leave his homeland of Ur in Mesopotamia, he journeyed to Canaan where God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars. Despite being childless until old age, he believed God's promise, and his faith was credited to him as righteousness. His willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac demonstrated his complete trust in God.

Read the full story of Abraham

Abraham's journeys, in distance

From Ur to Canaan

GEN 11:31 · GEN 12:5

Distance: ~1,800 km; following valleys and wells, not a straight line
Stops: 4; named stops along the way
On foot: ~3 months; at 18 km a day, with flocks and children

Leg	Terrain	Straight line	On the ground	On foot	Verse
Ur of the Chaldeans HaranUp the Euphrates valley with Terah, Sarai and Lot.	plain ×1.15	900 km	1,100 km	~60 days	GEN 11:31
Haran DamascusSouth through Syria; Eliezer of Damascus enters the story here (Gen 15:2).	plain ×1.15	450 km	500 km	~30 days	GEN 12:5
Damascus ShechemInto the land of Canaan, to the oak of Moreh.	hills ×1.30	170 km	220 km	~12 days	GEN 12:6

How these numbers are made

Great-circle distance between consecutive stops, multiplied by a terrain factor (plain ×1.15, hills ×1.30, mountains ×1.45, desert ×1.25, coast ×1.10), because nobody walks in a straight line. The range runs from the straight line to the routed distance. Days divide the routed distance by the pace of the travellers: 18 km a day with flocks and children, 28 for a small group on foot, 35 for a forced march. Every figure is rounded, on purpose.

Journey Timeline

Birth and Early Lifec. 2166 BC
Ur of the Chaldeans
Abram (later Abraham) is born in Ur of the Chaldeans, a sophisticated city in Mesopotamia. He is the son of Terah and will become the father of the Hebrew nation, called by God to leave everything familiar.
GEN 11:26-28
The Callc. 2091 BC
Haran
At age 75, God calls Abram to leave his country, family, and father's house for a land He will show him. God promises to make him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and bless all nations through him.
GEN 12:1-3
Journey to Canaanc. 2091 BC
Shechem
Abram takes Sarai his wife, Lot his nephew, and all their possessions and travels to Canaan. At Shechem, God appears and promises to give this land to Abram's descendants. Abram builds an altar there.
GEN 12:4-9
Sojourn in Egyptc. 2090 BC
Egypt
A famine forces Abram to Egypt. Fearing for his life because of Sarai's beauty, he asks her to say she is his sister. Pharaoh takes her into his palace, but God afflicts Pharaoh's household with plagues, exposing the deception.
GEN 12:10-20
Separation from Lotc. 2085 BC
Bethel
Conflict arises between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen due to their great wealth. Abram generously lets Lot choose first. Lot chooses the well-watered Jordan plain near Sodom. God reaffirms the land promise to Abram.
GEN 13:1-18
Rescue of Lotc. 2082 BC
Canaan
When four kings capture Lot and his possessions during a regional war, Abram leads 318 trained men in a night attack, defeats the kings, and rescues Lot. On return, Melchizedek king of Salem blesses Abram.
GEN 14:1-24
The Covenantc. 2081 BC
Canaan
God appears in a vision, promising Abram a son from his own body and descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram believes God, and it is credited to him as righteousness. God makes a covenant with him.
GEN 15:1-21
Birth of Ishmaelc. 2080 BC
Canaan
After ten years without a child, Sarai gives her servant Hagar to Abram. Hagar conceives Ishmael. Though Abram is 86 years old, Ishmael is not the child of promise, leading to family conflict.
GEN 16:1-16
Covenant of Circumcisionc. 2067 BC
Hebron
God appears again when Abram is 99. He changes Abram's name to Abraham ('father of multitudes') and Sarai to Sarah. He institutes circumcision as the covenant sign and promises Isaac within a year.
GEN 17:1-27
Three Visitors at Mamrec. 2067 BC
Hebron
Three divine visitors come to Abraham's tent at Mamre. He shows them hospitality. They confirm that Sarah will bear a son within a year. Sarah laughs within herself but is rebuked: 'Is anything too hard for the LORD?'
GEN 18:1-15
Intercession for Sodomc. 2067 BC
Canaan
God reveals His plan to investigate Sodom's wickedness. Abraham intercedes, asking if God would spare the city for fifty righteous, then forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, even ten. God agrees, but ten are not found.
GEN 18:16-33
Birth of Isaacc. 2066 BC
Hebron
Sarah conceives and bears Isaac when Abraham is 100 and she is 90. The name means 'laughter' - Sarah says God has brought her laughter. The child of promise has finally arrived, 25 years after the initial promise.
GEN 21:1-7
The Binding of Isaacc. 2051 BC
Mount Moriah
God tests Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. Abraham obeys, but at the last moment, the angel stops him. God provides a ram as substitute. This is Abraham's greatest test and triumph of faith.
GEN 22:1-19
Death of Sarahc. 2029 BC
Hebron
Sarah dies at age 127 in Hebron. Abraham mourns and weeps for her, then negotiates with the Hittites to purchase the cave of Machpelah as a burial site - the only land in Canaan he will own.
GEN 23:1-20
Death of Abrahamc. 1991 BC
Hebron
Abraham dies at age 175, 'an old man, full of years.' He is buried in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah. Isaac and Ishmael together bury their father. The covenant promises continue through Isaac.
GEN 25:7-11