The goal is harmony TB Baba Kama 81

Today’s daf TB Baba Kama records that “The Sages taught in a baraita: Joshua stipulated ten conditions when he apportioned Eretz Yisrael among the tribes.” (Sefaria.org translation) The goal of many of these conditions was to ensure harmony amongst the tribes. 

I know from my professional life that siblings fight over the inheritance in a will. People become angry because one sibling inherited more than he did. The land of Israel was divided amongst the tribes and in some tribal lands were natural resources that other tribes did not. For example, the Sea of Galilee is in the tribal land of Naphtali. Consequently, Joshua instituted the following condition. And that they (all the tribes-gg) shall have the right to fish in the Sea of Tiberias, provided that the fisherman does not build an underwater fence to catch fish, thereby causing an impediment to boats. The Gemara comments: But one may fish with nets and with traps. The Sages taught in a baraita: Initially, the tribes stipulated with each other that one may not build an underwater fence to catch fish, thereby causing an impediment to boats, but one may fish with nets and with traps.” (Sefaria.org translation) Another possible interpretation suggested was that the fishermen were not allowed to attach on their boats and thus have an unfair advantage to catch more fish.

A story teaches it arrogance or insolence is also a stumbling block of the goal of harmony between people. “The next item on the list of conditions is: And they shall have the right to veer off to the sides of the roads onto private property because of hard protrusions of the road… (The protrusions make it difficult to walk in the road; consequently, one may walk on the side of the road even if there is private property.-gg)

 Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and Rabbi Ḥiyya were once walking along the road, and they veered off to the sides of the road. Rabbi Yehuda ben Kanosa was taking broad steps on the road, to avoid the protrusions without going off to the side of the road, while walking in front of them. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to Rabbi Ḥiyya: Who is this man who is showing off his supposed greatness in our presence? By acting more stringently than required by halakha, he is displaying insolence.

Rabbi Ḥiyya said to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Perhaps it is my student Rabbi Yehuda ben Kanosa. And if so, all of his actions are undertaken for the sake of Heaven; he is not acting out of haughtiness. When they reached him and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi saw him, he said to him: If you were not Yehuda ben Kanosa I would have cut off your legs with iron shears, i.e., I would have excommunicated you for your impudence.” (Sefaria.org translation)

God hates an arrogant person. The Midrash teaches “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Anyone who is arrogant before his Creator, will not be cleansed from the judgment of hell. Rabbi Shimon said: anyone who is lowly in spirit, and is concerned in his heart to walk in the ways of the Holy One, he will be guaranteed that the Holy One will prepare his steps. As it is written: ‘The heart of the human will consider his ways and the Lord will prepare his steps.’ (Proverbs 16:9)” Midrash Rabba, Meshlei 13:3)

Rabbi Berel Wein teaches:

“The Talmud teaches us that the Lord, so to speak, cannot abide with the arrogant person. Unless one learns how to control one’s own ego and deal with one’s self and others fairly and realistically one shuts God out, again so to speak, from one’s life no matter how superficially observant and pious one appears to be.

“The relationship to God is built on recognition of one’s own human qualities, failures, foibles and successes. A realistic self-evaluation will always occasion a feeling of humility and subservience to the Divine.

“The person who always knows better and more than anyone else, who demands that others always bow to his will, is considered to be an evil person in the eyes of the Torah. Such a person is so full of himself and hubris that there is no room left within his heart and soul for Godliness to enter and reside. If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions it is also strewn with the debris of human arrogance and unwarranted hubris. Just ask Haman!

“An “I know better” attitude towards all problems, personal, societal or national, will undoubtedly lead to error and even disappointment and tragedy. The ability to listen to others, to consider others’ opinions and sensitivities and to reconsider one’s own previously held ideas and solutions constitutes the foundation step on the heavenly ladder of humility and holiness. Arrogance provides no avenue of escape for the angst of the human soul.

“The Torah warns us that arrogance leads to forgetfulness, especially the bitter forgetfulness of the Creator. We recite in the Rosh Hashanah prayers: “Fortunate is the person who has not forgotten You and the human being who has strengthened one’s self through You.” Arrogance is a disease that distorts and can even destroy memory. It occasions overwhelming pride in one’s own accomplishments whether they be deserved or not and warps one’s vision of one’s true place and purpose in the Godly scheme of things.” https://www.rabbiwein.com/blog/post-1445.html