“And there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Avram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock…so Avram said to Lot, ‘please let there be no strife between me and you… for we are kinsmen.’”(Bereshit 13:7-8)
It is interesting to note that this pasuk begins with the word “riv” (quarreling), which is a masculine word, and it ends with the word “merivah”(strife), which is a feminine word. The Shelach Hakadosh (Torah giant of the 16th century), explains Avram’s dialogue with Lot in the following matter. Abraham said to Lot, “let’s us stop this quarrel, this ‘riv’, right now, before it blows up into a full-scale ‘merivah’ (strive).” This word “merivah” which is feminine, symbolizes birth and growth. Abraham wanted to stop this disagreement before it gave birth and generated many more disputes and quarrels. As long as it’s kept in the male gender, then it cannot reproduce and become uncontrollable.
Abraham also emphasized the fact that he and Lot were “brothers,kinsmen.” A fight between brothers has far more ramnifications than a discord by two unrelated people, it becomes much harder to resolve differences.
This is why Avraham chose peace over all. He said to Lot,”choose which way you want to go, if you go right I’ll go left and if you choose left, I’ll go right.” And he did all this without a fight.
Some excerpts taken from “Peninim on the Torah” by Rabbi A.L. Scheinbaum
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