Petition of the Two and a Half Tribes/1/en
Petition of the Two and a Half Tribes
Introduction
Main Questions
Both the request of Reuven and Gad and the response of Moshe are surprising and troubling.
1) Request: Do they really mean to abandon their people’s campaign of conquering the
Promised Land and to prefer the lands of Sichon and Og, to G-d’s choice of Canaan?
2) Response: Moshe’s long (10 verses) and passionate response assumes the worst-was it reasonable? If it was, why does he permit them in the end, to settle outside of Canaan?
Secondary Questions:
1) What is the status of the eastern part of the Jordan-was it intended to be part of Israel?
2) After the detailed negotiation and agreement with Reuven and Gad (R&G) we note the sudden appearance of half the tribe of Menashe as joining them in Eiver Hayarden. How do we explain their surprise appearance on the scene?
3) How is the account of the return of the R&G Expedition Force in Yehoshua related?
