Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Then Lot chose him all the plain - a choice excellent in a worldly point of view, but most inexpedient for his best interests. He seems, though a good man, to have been too much under the influence of a selfish and covetous spirit; and how many, alas! imperil the good of their souls for the prospect of worldly advantage.
They separated themselves the one from the other. 'The social bond would be weak among a people who lived as herdsmen, the scarcity of herbage for their cattle not admitting of the advantage or comfort of settled abodes. Hence, though originally connected together as families from one common ancestor, their association in later times would depend almost wholly upon chance. Separations would take place, like that narrated in this chapter; and it is clear that, among a population so situated, there could be little of what is understood by civil society ('Nin. and Persep.,' p. 23). The incident, however, related here is of memorable interest, as a turning point in the history of Abram. For being now separated from the last of his kindred, as well as his father's house, a new and greater development of the divine promise was made to him.