Petition of the Two and a Half Tribes/2
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Version as of 09:52, 6 June 2016 by Debra.Applebaum (talk | contribs)
Petition of the Two and a Half Tribes
Exegetical Approaches
Moshe Had it Right!
The two Tribes’ original request had two components: one explicit, to receive their portion on the eastern side of the Jordan and one implied, that they would not be participating in the conquest. According to several sources, Moshe correctly inferred that R&G did not intend to join the campaign and saw this as an immediate threat to the success of the Conquest. By comparing their request to the Spies, Moshe is expressing his indignation that they would prefer to settle outside the borders that G-d had chosen for them. Therefore, his harsh response was justified.
Sources:Akeidat Yitzchak,
Dangers in their not participating in the Conquest? 1. Moshe's indignant exclamation,"האחיכם יבאו למלחמה ואתם תשבו פה", and his comparison to the Spies, implies and warns of the damaging psychological effect upon the other tribes, seeing their brothers already settled safe and sound while they yet faced long and dangerous struggles. Following the Midrash Rabba, who liken R&G to the rebellious Korach, commentaries, such as, Rashi, Zror Hamor and the Malbim, note that this situation, would weaken their morale and create jealousy and divisiveness.
2. Arama, Malbim and the Netziv point out that given how the lands of Sichon and Og had been conquered by the united effort of all the tribes, for two of the tribes to now claim for themselves the fruits of that combined effort and to leave to the others, alone, the burden of conquering Canaan was presumptuous and immoral.