So that the land could not support both of them dwelling together: verse 6 is a consequence of the conditions stated in Gen 13.5. We may show this by beginning with “therefore,” “as a result,” “because of this.” Some translations do not use a particular marker. The land refers to “pasture land,” or “grazing land,” which was not sufficient to feed the herds of both wealthy owners; as Good News Translation says, “There was not enough pasture land for the two of them to stay together.” Other ways of expressing this are, for example, “… so many animals and there was not enough food for them” and “there was not enough grass in that place, and they-two could not stay together there, because….”

For their possessions were so great: possessions translates the same term used in 12.5. See comments there. However, in this verse the focus is on their livestock, and so Good News Translation says “They had too many animals.” Bible en français courant says “Due to the large number of people and animals,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “The pasture land was not sufficient for the cattle herds of both.” They could not dwell together repeats what has been said in verse 6 and is not translated again by many modern translations.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .