The Sages explain in what way the land of Canaan was different from other lands.

Rabbi Levi said: At the time that Abraham was traveling through Aram Naharayim and Aram Nahor, he saw the local people eating, drinking, and acting without restraint. He said: I hope my lot will not be in this land. Once he reached the Promontory of Tyre, he saw that the local people were engaged in weeding at the time for weeding, in hoeing at the time for hoeing. He said: I hope my lot will be in this land. (Bereshit Rabba 39)