The Reubenites and the Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. (Numbers 32:1)Two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh) got to looking around on the east side of the Jordan, came to Moses and said, Gilead been veddy veddy goood to me. (Okay, this is an extremely obscure Saturday Night Live reference from the 70s.)
At first Moses was incensed, thinking these three tribes were abandoning the rest of the nation just as they were about to cross the Jordan to drive out the inhabitants of the land. This didn't set well with Moses until they assured him they would participate in the battle campaigns for Canaan, and then return to their wives and children in Gilead.
While Moses eventually gave his blessing to the request of these three tribes, it really didn't end well. There was never a strong connection between these transJordan tribes and the rest of Israel. As we continue to read, we will find the references to them are few and far between.
Do you have any distant family members with whom it would be good to reconnect?
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