On The Parsha
“We will build sheep pens for our livestock here, and cities for our children.” (BaMidbar 32:16)
The tribes of Gad and Reuven (“Tribes”) were certainly on a high spiritual level. They were part of the Dor De’ah, the generation that left Egypt and saw Hashem’s numerous miracles - the greatest generation that ever lived. And yet, on a subtle level, the Tribes were driven by an apparent drive for material possessions. After having arrived at land that was directly east of the land of Israel, they noted its fertile quality and expressed a desire to settle there instead of Israel, to benefit their flocks. Additionally, Moshe, at first, suspected that they wished to stay there and let their brethren continue on to battle alone for the land of Israel, and he accused them of such.
The Tribes clarified their position as follows, “We will build sheep pens for our livestock here and towns for our children. Then we will go quickly at the very head of the army and fight until the land is conquered and apportioned. Only then will we return to our homes.”
Moshe agreed to their request. He responded, “Build cities for your children and sheep pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.” (BaMidbar 32:24)
Notice in his response to the Tribes, Moshe emphasized the importance of their children's safety and future before their material possessions, reversing the order of the Tribes request. He first urged them to build "towns for your children," and then, and only then, to build "pens for your sheep."
The Ksav Sofer questions the last part of the verse, “… but do what you have promised.” Why did Moshe find it necessary to tell them to keep their promise. If the Tribes already said they would fight with their brethren to conquer the land of Israel, why did Moshe feel the need to press the matter further and adjure them to keep their word?
The Ksav Sofer answers that those who do not have their priorities straight and over emphasize the value of their material possessions are often not to be trusted to keep their word. The drive for money can blind them. Therefore, Moshe felt they needed additional encouragement to keep their commitment.
Returning to the matter of Moshe reversing the order of the Tribes request, it is interesting to note the opportunity that Moshe provided to the Tribes to correct their perspective.
The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 16) explains the idea of, “Achar HaP’ulos Nimshachim Halevavos – the hearts follow the implementation of actions.” This idea is also found in Chapter 23 of the Mesilas Yesharim – that the actions that a person takes outwardly, slowly but surely, affect how they feel inwardly.
Moshe instructed them to provide for their children first, and then for their possessions. By complying with Moshe’s instructions, they would be taking an outward concrete action which would affect how they would feel on the inside and would change their perception about what really should come first.
This is the model that we must follow to help ensure that we follow in the ways of Hashem – that to perceive and feel the right things inwardly, we must take the right actions outwardly.
Lofty concepts and ideas are not enough – they must be accompanied by actions to develop and imbed them into our hearts and minds.
The prophets of Israel speak of the noble ideals of universal peace, brotherhood, seeking truth and justice, and walking humbly before Hashem. However, this is insufficient. Judaism requires that these noble ideas be solidified internally within us through external actions such as through the performance of Mitzvos.
