Genesis 13:7

And there was a strife The account according to J of the reason for the separation. Disputes were constantly arising between the herdsmen of the two caravans. For other examples of such causes of friction among shepherds and herdsmen, see Genesis 21:24-32; Genesis 26:15-33.

and the Canaanite and the Perizzite Cf. Genesis 12:6. The introduction of this clause is probably intended to emphasize the danger of dissensions between the Hebrew camps at a time when the native inhabitants, jealous of the wealth of the strangers, might be glad of a pretext for attacking them singly. "The Canaanite" is the indigenous inhabitant (Genesis 10:15; Genesis 10:19; Genesis 12:6) in J.

The Perizzite is mentioned with the Canaanite in Genesis 34:30; Judges 1:4-5, and in the lists of the nations, e.g. Genesis 15:20-21. In Joshua 17:15 the Perizzites are named with the Rephaim; and in Joshua 24:11 with the Amorites. There is no means of determining where they dwelt. Some have supposed that the Perizzites meant the peasantry, or dwellers in villages and unwalled towns, as distinct from the Canaanites who dwelt in walled cities: and that the name is connected with the word perazi, used in Deuteronomy 3:5 and 1 Samuel 6:18.