And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
The land could not support both of them living there together, because they had so much wealth and possessions that there wasn't enough room for them to stay together.
This verse explains that Abraham and Lot had become so wealthy with livestock and possessions that the land couldn't support both of their households in the same area.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Abraham and his nephew Lot had both become extremely wealthy with flocks and herds after returning from Egypt, as described in the earlier chapters. The land they were inhabiting could not support both their large households without leading to disputes over resources, highlighting the challenges of shared living in an ancient pastoral society. This verse sets the stage for their amicable separation to avoid conflict.
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