EXTRA 1 on Lech Lecha 13:8

EXTRA · Ohr HaChaim · Parashas Lech Lecha · Passuk 13:8

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ל֗וֹט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

Avram said to Lot: Let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.

Source

Ohr HaChaim on Genesis 13:8

Core Text

Core Text טַעַם אָמְרוֹ בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ, הוֹדִיעוֹ כִּי סוֹפָהּ לִהְיוֹת הַמְּרִיבָה גַּם בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם. וַהֲגַם שֶׁיֹּאמַר לוֹט כִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לֹא יָרִיב אֶת רַבּוֹ… אַף עַל פִּי כֵן יוֹדֶה בַּדָּבָר.
English: The reason he said “between me and you” is to inform him that the strife would eventually reach the two of them as well. Even if Lot would say that Heaven forbid he would not quarrel with his master… nevertheless he would admit the matter.
Context: Avraham anticipates that a dispute among the herdsmen will not stay contained; he names the personal level of conflict before it appears.

What Is Learned

Strife among dependents is treated as already latent strife between the principals.