Abram (Abraham) journeys from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran.  Those traveling with him include his wife Sarai (Sarah), his father Terah and nephew Lot (Genesis 11).  Abraham and family live in Haran for about five years.  After Terah dies in Haran God tells Abraham to travel to Canaan (Land of Palestine or the Promised Land).  Abraham leaves Haran and settles in Shechem, where God promises to give his descendents the land (Genesis 12:6-7).

Abraham journeys from Shechem to Egypt due to a great famine affecting the land (Genesis 12:10).  He fears, however, that if the Egyptians learn he is married to Sarah they will kill him in order to take her.  Abraham avoids death by telling the Egyptian authorities the lie that he was only Sarah's brother (Genesis 12:11-20).

Jacob flees to Haran in order to avoid being killed by his brother Esau, who is very angry with him for stealing his birthright blessing from their father Issac (Genesis 27).

Because he does not want his son to marry a Canaanite woman, Abraham sends his head servant Eliezer to his kindred in Haran in order to find a wife for Issac.  Eliezer finds a virgin in Haran named Rebekah who, after seeking permission from her father, travels back with him to Shechem and marries Issac (see Genesis 24).