Why Abram and Lot's Herdsmen Quarreled Over Grazing the Land

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 13:7

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle" (Genesis 13:7). The herdsmen of Abram's cattle said to the herdsmen of Lot's cattle: For what reason do you take Lot's animals out to graze when they are not muzzled, so that they eat from what is stolen? And the herdsmen of Lot's cattle would answer: You say that we have acted improperly, because you take Abram's cattle out to graze and they are muzzled, while we do not do so. Do you not know that the Lord has given the land to Abraham? And Abram is a barren mule, and Lot his brother's son inherits him, and Lot's cattle, if they graze, graze from what is his own. "And the Canaanite and the Perizzite were then dwelling in the land" (Genesis 13:7). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: The Canaanite and the Perizzite are still dwelling in the land, and you say that the land has been given to Abram? Another interpretation: "And the Canaanite and the Perizzite." At that time they had entered and transgressed the oath, but the rest of the nations had not yet entered there.

Themes

AbrahamAnimalsCreationTribesGad

Biblical References

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