Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.

And Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan; and Lot went toward the east. And they separated the one from the other:

and Lot chooseth for himself the whole circuit of the Jordan; and Lot journeyeth from the east, and they are parted, a man from his companion;

So Lot took for himself all the valley of Jordan, and went to the east, and they were parted from one another.

And Lot chose for himself the region around the Jordan, and he withdrew by way of the east. And they were divided, one brother from the other.

Et elegit sibi Lot omnem planitiem Jarden, et profectus est Lot ad Oreientem, et separaverunt se alter ab altero.

Then Lot chose him all the plain - A little civility or good breeding is of great importance in the concerns of life. Lot either had none, or did not profit by it. He certainly should have left the choice to the patriarch, and should have been guided by his counsel; but he took his own way, trusting to his own judgment, and guided only by the sight of his eyes: he beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered, etc.; so he chose the land, without considering the character of the inhabitants, or what advantages or disadvantages it might afford him in spiritual things. This choice, as we shall see in the sequel, had nearly proved the ruin of his body, soul, and family.

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the (h) one from the other.
(h) This was done by God's providence, that only Abram and his seed might dwell in the land of Canaan.

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan,.... Because of its good pasturage, and because of the plenty of water there; the want of both which was the inconvenience he had laboured under, and had occasioned the strife between his and Abram's servants:
and Lot journeyed east, or "eastward"; for the plain of Jordan, and that part of the land on which Sodom and Gomorrah stood, were to the east of Bethel: the phrase is by some rendered "from the east" (y), and the particle used most commonly so signifies; and Jarchi observes, that he journeyed from east to west; and Aben Ezra says, that Sodom was at the west of Bethel, in which he is most certainly wrong, for it was most clearly in the eastern part of the land; wherefore others, that follow this version, interpret it, that he went from the east of Bethel, or he went into that country situated at the east with respect to the land of Canaan; but it is best to render it as we do, east or eastward, to or towards the east (z):
and they separated themselves the one from the other; that is, Abram and Lot, they parted good friends by consent; and the one went with his family, flocks, and herds, to one place, and settled there; and the other in another place, and so further animosities and contentions were prevented.
(y) "ab Oriente", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Cocceius, Schmidt. (z) "Orientem versus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Cartwrightus.

Then Lot chose him all the plain--a choice excellent from 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.