English: “Near…” Rav Chama bar Gurya said in the name of Rav: A person should always seek to dwell in a city whose settlement is recent, because when its settlement is recent its sins are few, as it is said, “Behold now, this city is near… it is small”—because its settlement is recent, its sins are few (mitz’ar).
On the daf / in context: The description of Tzoar as “near” and “small” is read as advice to prefer a young community whose sins have not yet accumulated.
Type of Learning
Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Geographic adjectives are turned into a principle of choosing where to live.
What Is Learned
Prefer a recently settled city; its sins are fewer. Lot’s description of Tzoar as “near” and “small” supplies the proof.