Midrashic tradition suggests that the tribes on the east side of the Jordan River were exiled first – and that it was their fault, for reasons dating going all the way back to the day they asked to settle there. Yet, if the request was inherently flawed, why did Moshe grant it?
Through a close reading of the text of Numbers chapter 32, we will raise some questions and gain some insights into what was wrong, and right, and wrong, with that original request.
Our analysis will also prepare us for part two of this mini-series: exploring a near-disastrous episode from the “middle” of the tribal story arc, and how disaster was averted by the simplest of tactics.