Saturday, February 18, 2012

Day 49: Numbers 31, 32 and 33


The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. (Numbers 32:1)

As Israel was camped on the Plains of Moab, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh took inventory of their surroundings. They got to looking around on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, and couldn’t understand how Canaan could be any better than the lands already under their feet. They came to Moses and said, Gilead been veddy veddy goood to me. (Okay, this is a very, very obscure 1970s Saturday Night Live Garrett Morris reference – one would require a misspent youth and too much time on their hands to get it.)

At first, Moses was incensed, thinking these three tribes were abandoning the rest of the nation just as they were about to cross into Canaan 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 gave his blessing to the request of these three tribes, it really didn't end well. There was never really 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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