Matot-Mas'ei: Negotiating Individual Freedom and Obligation

(1) Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who sanctified us with commandments and commanded us to be engrossed in the words of Torah.

(1) The Reubenites and the Gadites owned cattle in very great numbers. Noting that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were a region suitable for cattle, (2) the Gadites and the Reubenites came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the chieftains of the community, and said, (3) “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon— (4) the land that Hashem has conquered for the community of Israel is cattle country, and your servants have cattle. (5) It would be a favor to us,” they continued, “if this land were given to your servants as a holding; do not move us across the Jordan.” (6) Moses replied to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here? (7) Why will you turn the minds of the Israelites from crossing into the land that Hashem has given them? (8) That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to survey the land. (9) After going up to the wadi Eshcol and surveying the land, they turned the minds of the Israelites from invading the land that Hashem had given them. (10) Thereupon Hashem was incensed and swore, (11) ‘None of the men from twenty years up who came out of Egypt shall see the land that I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they did not remain loyal to Me— (12) none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they remained loyal to Hashem.’ (13) Hashem was incensed at Israel, and for forty years S/He made them wander in the wilderness, until the whole generation that had provoked Hashem’s displeasure was gone. (14) And now you, a breed of sinful men, have replaced your fathers, to add still further to Hashem’s wrath against Israel. (15) If you turn away from [God] and S/He abandons them once more in the wilderness, you will bring calamity upon all this people.” (16) Then they stepped up to him and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children. (17) And we will hasten as shock-troops in the van of the Israelites until we have established them in their home, while our children stay in the fortified towns because of the inhabitants of the land. (18) We will not return to our homes until every one of the Israelites is in possession of his portion. (19) But we will not have a share with them in the territory beyond the Jordan, for we have received our share on the east side of the Jordan.” (20) Moses said to them, “If you do this, if you go to battle as shock-troops, at the instance of Hashem, (21) and every shock-fighter among you crosses the Jordan, at the instance of Hashem, until S/He has dispossessed the enemies before Him, (22) and the land has been subdued, at the instance of Hashem, and then you return—you shall be clear before Hashem and before Israel; and this land shall be your holding under Hashem. (23) But if you do not do so, you will have sinned against Hashem; and know that your sin will overtake you. (24) Build towns for your children and sheepfolds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.” (25) The Gadites and the Reubenites answered Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. (26) Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our other livestock will stay behind in the towns of Gilead; (27) while your servants, all those recruited for war, cross over, at the instance of Hashem, to engage in battle—as my lord orders.”