Reuben and Gad Request Land
32: 1-15
Reuben and Gad request land DIG: What were the tribes of Reuben and Gad asking for? What was the basis of their decision? What were the dangers? What was Moses afraid of? What does “the fringe of the Promised Land mean?” Why did the two-and-a-half tribes decide to settle outside of the Promised Land? What do you think about their reasons?
REFLECT: Today, what natural and spiritual barriers to unity exist between isolated believers? What dangers are there for lone-wolf believers? What would you do to break this isolation and bring people together? In what ways are the congregations of God isolated from one another? What dangers are there in such prolonged isolation?
Moses feared a repetition of the sin of the Exodus Generation, and punishment of Kadesh-barnea.
This chapter begins, as several chapters do, with people making a request of Moses. They came to him not because he was king, but because he was the appointed divine mediator between YHVH and His people. As in the case of the daughters of Zelophehad (to see link click Eu – The Daughters of Zelophehad), and as in the instance of the relatives of those women (see Gn – The Daughters of Zelophehad Revisited), so the leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moshe. The abundance of fertile grazing land in the Transjordan prompted the leaders of those two tribes to request Moses and Eleazar that they might settle there, not across (west of) the Jordan River.
This was nothing more than a pragmatic decision that led to remarkable negotiation between God and His servant Moses. Their request was not sinful, although the Transjordan was outside the Promised Land. But it was also a gift of God, won by conquest. When we think of Canaan, we are prone to think of the Cisjordan. Canaan proper is described in Chapter 34 (see Gi – The Boundaries of the Promised Land). Yet, the full inheritance of the Israelites extended to the regions of the Transjordan as well. But it was, in a sense, the tzit-tzit of the garment (see Cl – Tzit-tzit and Blue Thread). It was not the heart and soul of the Land, and to settle on the fringe was a mixed blessing. It was their choice to live there.
However, because they were somewhat removed from the center of life in the Land, they were the most prone to be influenced by outsiders. And clearly they were the most open for territorial expansion by their pagan neighbors. Territorial living had both its advantages and its disadvantages. Ultimately, their request and the LORD’s decision through Moses expanded the territory of Isra’el. If you take a positive outlook, we can see this chapter as a rash adventure of faith rather than a record of rebellion.732
The request of the tribes (32:1-5): The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said: the cities of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah (in verse 38 he is referred to as Beth-Nimrah), Heshbon, Eleaheh, Sebam (in verse 38 he is referred to as Sibmah), Nebo and Beon (in verse 38 he is referred to as Ba’al-Meon) – the Land that ADONAI subdued before the people of Isra’el – are suitable for grazing livestock, and your servants have livestock. The repetition of the word livestock is for emphasis; their herds must have been exceptionally large. The conquest of the Midianite livestock would have further expanded the holdings of their two tribes as well as the other ten (to see link click Fq – Report of the Battle). But their language suggests that the number of livestock that they had was out of proportion to the other tribes. They needed the room that the Transjordan seemed to provide.733 Therefore, they requested: If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to your servants as our possession and settle in the Transjordan (see Fy – Reuben and Gad in the Transjordan). Do not make us cross the Jordan River and settle in the Cisjordan, or what would be called the West Bank today. True, those tribes would be separated from the rest of the nation by the Jordan, but they saw this as a minor concern.
The negative response of Moses (32:6-15): Moses may have reacted too quickly, because his first thought was that these tribes were deserting the cause. He probably thought they were ready to settle down. Moshe always had the entire nation at heart as well as the great challenge of conquering and claiming the Promised Land. To him, it was a terrible sin for any of the tribes to retreat from the conflict and fail to do their part in conquering the Land. Just as the ten spies had discouraged the whole nation at Kadesh-barnea and led the people into thirty-eight wasted years, so those two tribes could discourage Isra’el by quitting at the very borders of their inheritance. More than that, their selfish attitude could arouse the anger of Ha’Shem, and He might send judgment as He had done before when the people sinned. Even worse, God might just abandon the nation and let them die in the wilderness.734 Therefore, Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites. There is a subtle shift in the wording from verse 2, where Reuben proceeds Gad. Here the order is reversed. Perhaps this is a subtle way of suggesting that both tribes had an equal stake in the decision. Only later do we find that some of the clans of Manasseh were also involved (Numbers 32:33; Joshua 13:8ff).735
Moses said: Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the Land the LORD has given them? Then Moshe raged: This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to look over the Land. After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, the ten spies discouraged the Israelites from entering the land ADONAI had given them (see By – The Report of the Spies). Moses believed that the tribes of Gad and Reuben would be guilty of the same sin that the ten spies had been guilty of. Ha’Shem’s anger was aroused that day and He swore this oath, “Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – not one except Caleb from the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6 and 34:19) and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed ADONAI wholeheartedly.” God’s anger burned against Isra’el and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole Exodus generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone” (see Cb – God’s Response).
The application to the Wilderness Generation: Moses feared a repetition of the sin of the Exodus Generation, and punishment of Kadesh-barnea. And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the LORD even more angry with Isra’el. If you turn away from following Him, He will again leave all these people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for Your very gracious love that accepts as family, all who trust You as their Lord and Savior (John 1:12). Important decisions need to be carefully prayed over and considered in light of how it will affect their relationship with You. Though the Reubenites and Gadites saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for their very large herds and flocks, more importantly was how would this decision would affect their worship of God? Though the land is very suitable for their flocks on the east side of the Jordan, that would separate them from most of the rest of the Israelits. What may look good in the short run may be very unwise for future generations to follow.
Worshiping with others is very important. A single light/match can be easily extinguished, but a handful of matches burn longer. So also, a single worshiper may get discouraged, but a family that praises God together, stays together! It is helpful to live close to others who can influence in worshiping You with all our hearts. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds. And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another – and all the more so as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). May you guide Your children to make decisions that draw them closer to You and keep their eyes focused on living for You in all they say, do and think. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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