Giving Reubenites and Gaddites benefit of doubt

Ever since the blessing given to the Tribe of Gad by Yaakov in the middle of Parshat Vaychi, Gad has been considered to be the greatest soldier, and set of soldiers, known to Israel.

So well known is this fact, that every image for Gad that I have ever seen in artwork depicting the tribes always has Gad represented as field-tents or soldiers. No other tribe shares such a distinction.

When the tribes of Reuven and Gad, who traveled together (along with the recently-devastated tribe of Shimon) in the wilderness come to Moshe in Chapter 32 asking to settle in the land conquered from Sichon and Og, their request does not seem that odd. If, after all, they had led the troops in battle against those enemies, they may have been the first to observe and take note of the topography, to determine this land would mean a great economic boom for their tribes.

They list the particular lands and cities they want, explaining that they want to put roots here for “[in] the land that G-d struck down before the Israelite community is livestock land - and what we have is livestock’.”

This is not crazy. They see an opportunity, so they want to capitalize on it.

They know it is very close to the Promised Land. And yet, they say, “If you would grant us a favor, let this land be given to us as our permanent property, and do not bring us across the Jordan.”

There are different ways to understand their request.

Are they saying they don’t want to go across the Jordan at all? Or are they saying they don’t want to shlep their families along? Do they make any mention of what role they intend to play or not play on the coming battlefield? As a matter of fact, these questions are not addressed at all.

Instead, Moshe goes on a 10-verse tirade about how they’re committing the same sin as the spies and the people of that generation who revolted against the Land.

Arguably the only legitimate response Moshe has is a fair concern: “Moses said to the descendants of Gad and Reuven, ‘Why should your brothers go out and fight while you stay here’?” (32:6)