After the argument that erupted between Avraham’s and Lot's shepherds, Avraham proposed that they part ways. Lot chose to relocate in Sedom, in the area of the Dead Sea. It seems difficult to explain, why the Torah would find it necessary to inform us that Lot left specifically from the eastern border of Beit-El. Could there be a reason beyond geographic pinpointing?
We read in Parashat Lekh-Lekha of the argument that erupted between Avraham’s shepherds and those of his nephew, Lot, in response to which Avraham proposed that they part ways. Lot chose to relocate in Sedom, in the area of the Dead Sea. Curiously, the Torah writes that “Lot journeyed from the east” (“va-yisa Lot mi-kedem” – 13:11). The separation of Avraham and Lot took place in the area of Beit-El (13:3), which is situated along the central mountain rage of Eretz Yisrael, north of Jerusalem. Sedom, of course, which lies along the Jordan River Valley, is located to the east of the mountains. Lot thus traveled eastward from Beit-El to Sedom, rather than westward, as the verse indicates. Surprisingly, Rashi and Seforno explain this phrase according to its simple reading, to mean that Lot journeyed westward away from Avraham, and Ibn Ezra explicitly writes that Sedom is to the west of Beit-El.
Other commentators suggested different interpretations to reconcile this phrase with accepted assumptions of Biblical geography. Some commentators (cited by Ha-ketav Ve-ha-kabbala) suggested that the word “mi-kedem” (“from the east”) means not that Lot journeyed from east to west, but rather that he left from the eastern regions of Beit-El. Lot and Avraham were situated at this point on the eastern side of Beit-El, and Lot traveled from there further eastward, to Sedom.
It seems difficult to explain, however, according to this approach, why the Torah would find it necessary to inform us that Lot left specifically from the eastern border of Beit-El.
Shadal notes that the Torah oftentimes omits the word el (“to”), and leaves it implicit. He thus suggests reading this phrase as “va-yisa Lot el mi-kedem,” which would mean that Lot journeyed to the place which is to the east, that is, to the east of Beit-El, where he had been living.
Rav Yaakov Mecklenberg, in his Ha-ketav Ve-ha-kabbala, advances a different theory, based on the translation of Targum Onkelos to this phrase. Onkelos translates the word “mi-kedem” as “be-kadmeita,” which means “first.” Apparently, according to Onkelos, the word “kedem” here means not “east,” but rather “first” or “before.” The Torah emphasizes that Lot took leave of Avraham immediately after Avraham made his offer, allowing Lot to choose an area to settle. It would have been far more respectful and mannerly for Lot to exercise some patience and discuss the matter with his uncle at greater length. He instead rushed to settle in the area of his choice, before discussing the matter with Avraham. The Torah therefore adds the word “mi-kedem” as a subtle criticism of Lot for his impatience and imprudence.