Israel's Soldiers, God's Soldiers

And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuven  came and said to Moses and to Elazar the priest and to the princes of the congregation, saying ... if we have found grace in your eyes, let this land be given to your servants as a possession, do not take us across the Jordan.                   Numbers 32:2,5

      Thus the tribes of Gad and Reuven requested to take their portion of the Land east of the River Jordan.

       Moses responded by reprimanding Gad and Reuven, even accusing them of ruining the entire nation (verse 15).

       Hearing Moses’ reprimand, Gad and Reuven offered to be the vanguard of the army which will fight to liberate the Land.

Sheep pens will we build for our livestock here, and cities for our children. And we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the Children of Israel until we have brought them to their place ...                                                       32: 16 - 17

       As Rashi notes, Moses, in his response to the offer of Gad and Reuven corrects them. Gad and Reuven said “we will build sheep pens for our livestock and cities for our children”. Moses reversed the order: “build cities for your children and sheep pens for your livestock”. Moses corrected the priorities: first build cities to protect your children, then sheep pens for your livestock. [verse 24]

         Malbim points out an even more fundamental change which Moses made to the wording of the offer of Gad and Reuven. The two tribes said “we will go before the Children of Israel.” [verse 17] Moses counters with “(if) every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before God ...” (verse 21).

      Malbim explains that “going before the Children of Israel” implies anticipation of fighting a normal war, dependent upon the strength and skills of the army. On the other hand, “going before God” expresses recognition of God fighting on behalf of Israel, in a war to be fought in a miraculous way, not as wars are normally fought. Further, says Malbim, “going before God” indicates going to war with the realization that it is for the sake of heaven and with trust in God, rather than in the army’s skills and tactics.

          These two aspects; divine providence and realization of fighting for the sake of heaven, are interconnected. The extent of the divine intervention is likely to be in accordance with the soldiers’ realization that they are fighting for the sake of heaven.

            Malbim adds an additional interesting comment. The order presented by Gad and Reuven: sheep pens first and then cities for the children would be reasonable if Gad and Reuven were going before God. Had the two tribes accepted that the impending war will be fought not on a natural level, but rather on a miraculous level, they would not need to be concerned for the safety of their families left on the eastern side of the Jordan, since they would undoubtedly benefit from divine protection. Rather, the primary concern would be caring for the livestock.

            In verse 27 we read that Gad and Reuven accept Moses’ correction and realize that they must go before God.