בראשית, פרק י״ג, פסוק י׳

At a moment of fateful decision, Lot stands upon a mountain and gazes toward the Jordan Valley. His choice of a new home is driven entirely by visual appeal and material wealth, completely ignoring the moral reality of the land's inhabitants. The area he surveys is a vast, wide plain [רד״ק, רש״י, ביאור יש״ר]. This massive expanse of lush, rich pastureland was formed by the river carving its way through the earth, creating a deep and fertile valley [מחוקקי יהודה, רש״ר הירש].

What makes this valley so uniquely attractive is its abundant water supply [רש״י, רלב״ג, שפתי חכמים]. Rather than depending on unpredictable rainfall, the region is naturally and constantly irrigated by the overflowing banks of the Jordan River. This makes the land entirely immune to drought and absolutely perfect for grazing livestock [רמב״ן, חזקוני, הכתב והקבלה]. The narrative notes that this lush reality existed before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. This is not a reflection of Lot's thoughts at the time, but rather a historical clarification added by Moses to describe the land's original state [שד״ל, גור אריה, שפתי חכמים]. Long before the destruction that would eventually leave behind the salty, desolate wasteland of the Dead Sea, the entire region was a thriving, water-rich paradise [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The exceptional agricultural wealth of the area is compared to both the Garden of Eden and the land of Egypt. The primary approach among commentators is that these two comparisons highlight different advantages: the region resembled Eden in its magnificent yield of fruit trees, while it mirrored Egypt in the superior quality of its seeds and grain [רמב״ן, רש״י, מלבי״ם, גור אריה]. Furthermore, the comparison points to the method of irrigation. Just as Eden was watered by a central river and Egypt by the Nile, the Jordan Valley relied entirely on a network of canals and streams rather than rain [רד״ק, בכור שור, הכתב והקבלה]. This incredible abundance stretched all the way to the border of the city of Zoar [רד״ק, רש״י, ביאור יש״ר]. According to another perspective, Sodom and Gomorrah themselves were densely populated urban centers lacking green spaces. It was the smaller city of Zoar that served as their agricultural hub, meaning the spectacular view of gardens and orchards was most prominent as one approached Zoar [העמק דבר].

Beneath the geographical description lies a profound moral failure. Lot's upward gaze is driven purely by physical lust and superficial sight. He carefully calculates the agricultural quality of the land but deliberately overlooks the deeply corrupt nature of the people living there—a fatal error for which he will ultimately pay a heavy price [רש״ר הירש, בכור שור]. Having previously accompanied Abraham down to Egypt, Lot developed a deep craving for the luxurious Egyptian lifestyle and actively sought out a place that could replicate it [קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. The sages view this entire episode as a severe condemnation of Lot's character. They note that the underlying language describing his gaze, the valley, and the well-watered land frequently appears elsewhere in biblical texts in the context of sin and immorality. Lot, possessing flawed character traits and having surrendered his ability to choose good, is naturally drawn to Sodom. He actively chooses to settle among its people precisely because of their deeply immoral and corrupt way of life [רש״י, תורה תמימה, פרדס יוסף].