Petition of the Two and a Half Tribes/2
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Version as of 10:11, 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.
Dangers in Receiving their portion outside of Canaan
1.By their preferenc for land outside the boundaries of Canaan , Midrash Rabba, Zror Hamor and Aroma, accuse R&G of being guilty of ,"וימאסו בארץ חמדה."
The promise of The Land is a central element of every revelation by G-d to all our Avot and is a component of the Birkat Avraham that accompanies and guides the Bnei Israel through their bondage and exodus from Egypt and wandering through the wilderness.
All the references to The Land, beginning with the promises to the Avot, speak of “the land of Canaan” which in the days of Moshe had a particular geographic referent. While its north-south borders were never considered definitive ,מנהר מצרים עד הנהר הגדל נהר פרת", the natural borders of the Mediteranean Sea and Jordan River , determined its east-west limits. It did not include the lands east of the Jordan. For those situated on the east side of the Jordan, it was always, “when you will cross the Jordan”. And so, G-d said to Moshe while he was on the east side of the Jordan, "והיה ביום אשר תעברו את הירדן אל הארץ אשר ה' אלקיך נתן לך", the Land that G-d gives you as an inheritance is on the west side.
2 .Moshe fears that settlement of R&G outside of Canaan would be considered by G-d as a grievous sin, resulting in some sort of collective punishment just as it was in the case of the Spies ,or perhaps as the Netziv suggests, an extension of the Spies' punishment of wandering the desert.
1.By their preferenc for land outside the boundaries of Canaan , Midrash Rabba, Zror Hamor and Aroma, accuse R&G of being guilty of ,"וימאסו בארץ חמדה."
The promise of The Land is a central element of every revelation by G-d to all our Avot and is a component of the Birkat Avraham that accompanies and guides the Bnei Israel through their bondage and exodus from Egypt and wandering through the wilderness.
All the references to The Land, beginning with the promises to the Avot, speak of “the land of Canaan” which in the days of Moshe had a particular geographic referent. While its north-south borders were never considered definitive ,מנהר מצרים עד הנהר הגדל נהר פרת", the natural borders of the Mediteranean Sea and Jordan River , determined its east-west limits. It did not include the lands east of the Jordan. For those situated on the east side of the Jordan, it was always, “when you will cross the Jordan”. And so, G-d said to Moshe while he was on the east side of the Jordan, "והיה ביום אשר תעברו את הירדן אל הארץ אשר ה' אלקיך נתן לך", the Land that G-d gives you as an inheritance is on the west side.
2 .Moshe fears that settlement of R&G outside of Canaan would be considered by G-d as a grievous sin, resulting in some sort of collective punishment just as it was in the case of the Spies ,or perhaps as the Netziv suggests, an extension of the Spies' punishment of wandering the desert.
