The Torah tells that Avraham amassed a considerable fortune during his brief stay in Egypt and returned to Canaan a wealthy man (13:2). A subsequent verse adds, "And also Lot, who traveled with Avram, had sheep, cattle and tents." As noted by Rav Shimshon Refael Hirsch, this verse presents a subtle portrayal of Lot's character, and the unfortunate nature of his relationship with Avraham.
We read in Parashat Lekh-Lekha of the famine which struck Canaan, in response to which Avraham temporarily relocated in Egypt. The Torah tells that Avraham amassed a considerable fortune during his brief stay in Egypt and returned to Canaan a wealthy man (13:2). The subsequent verse adds, "And also Lot, who traveled with Avram, had sheep, cattle and tents." This verse sets the stage for the ensuing narrative of the quarrels that erupted between the shepherds of Avraham and those of his nephew, Lot.
Additionally, as noted by Rav Shimshon Refael Hirsch, this verse also presents a subtle portrayal of Lot's character, and the unfortunate nature of his relationship with Avraham. Rav Hirsch observes that the te'amim, the traditional arrangement of cantillation notes accompanying the text, does not, at first glance, seem consistent with the structure of this verse. An etnachta note, which signifies a pause (roughly equivalent to a comma or semicolon in English), appears underneath the word "Avram," as if the verse should be read as follows: "And also Lot, who traveled with Avraham; he had sheep, cattle and tents." Why would the reader be told to pause after the fragment, "And also Lot, who traveled with Avraham," rather than immediately proceed to the sentence's predicate phrase – "had sheep, cattle and tents"?
Rav Hirsch suggests that the Torah structured the verse in this manner in order to underscore the stark contrast between the verse's actual conclusion, and how the reader likely anticipated that it would conclude. Upon reading the words, "And also Lot, who traveled with Avram," the reader might expect to hear of how Avraham's kindness and generosity impacted upon him, the profound spiritual effect that the close, sustained company of the great patriarch had upon Lot's character. Instead, what Lot gained from this experience was "sheep, cattle and tents." His relationship with his uncle was limited to financial affairs, and did not involve Avraham's spiritual mission. As Rav Hirsch writes, Lot "accompanied Avraham because he profited materially by it." The time he spent with his uncle did not have much of an educational impact upon Lot, whose mind was singularly focused upon his quest for material success. The Torah thus arranges this verse in a manner which raises the reader's expectations of Lot, thereby highlighting the disappointing truth about his relationship with Avraham.