Too Much Stuff Causes Big Family Split!

Genesis 13: 1 - 10 (summary of notes - need to fill in details)

Books & Articles Mentioned:
Jews for Judaism: Know How to Answer (I could not find the book but here is their website )

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
Review by Malcolm Gladwell -

The Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin, 1968


About Avram returning from Egypt the ‘way he came’ - returns by the same route:

• A lesson in frugality
• Showing loyalty
• He paid his debts – debts not monetary but of answers to questions he could not previously answer
• To return to the altars – as he was a missionary
  

Lot’s role -
“the land could not support them both”
- Too much stuff!
- Ecological reasons
- Conflict over resources
- Their possessions weigh them down.

SR Hirsch – incompatibility between Lot and Avram – If they can’t agree and there is no trust they need to separate all their possessions.

Priority conflict: Lot = Profit Avram = Morality

There are deeper reasons why people come into conflict.

What does ownership mean? Concept of private property?

Canaanites and the Perizzites – the settled population – a contrast to Avram and the nomadic life he leads.

Avram and Lot – strangers in the land and conflict between them.

NEXT TIME: Avram offers a solution...