Adapted from a shiur given by the Tolner Rebbe shlita, Matos UMas’ei 5778
לע"נ האשה החשובה מרת אסתר בת הרה"ח ר' זאב ע"ה נלב"ע י"ד סיון תשפ"ה נתרם ע"י בנה ידידינו הנגיד הנכבד רבי זאב מאשקאוויטש שליט"א
וַיֹּאמֶר בְּנֵי גָד וּבְּנֵי רְּ אוּבֵן אֶל משֶה לֵאמֹּר עֲבָדֶיךָ יַעֲשׂוּ כַאֲשֶר אֲדֹּנִי מְּצַוֶּה -- The children of Gad and the children of Reuven said to Mosheh saying, Your servants shall do as my lord commands.” Rashi, noting the use of the singular Vayomer (rather than the plural Vayomru) when referring to the children of Gad and of Reuven, says that all of them said as one man.
Why Were They As One Man Specifically in This Posuk?
Up until this point, the plural form has always been used. Throughout this chapter, they are speaking as one group to Mosheh. So what is so special about this specific point in time that they are speaking as one man?
Elsewhere, it says, And Israel encamped [vayichan – singuar] there, and Rashi comments, “As one man with one heart.” Here, Rashi says only, “As one man.” Why the change?
Also, Rashi is understood to take great care in the headings of his comments. Here, the heading is “The children of Gad said,” omitting the children of Reuven. Why?
Back to the possuk itself: The children of Gad and the children of Reuven said to Mosheh saying... Despite the classic translation of לֵאמֹּר as saying, it actually means “to say [to others].” In this case, however, to whom was Mosheh to say anything?
Also, this possuk ends, “as my lord commands.” Just two pesukim later, however, it says “as my lord speaks.” Why the change?
The Children of Gad Were the Mightiest Fighters
We propose a novel approach to this story. Earlier in the chapter, Rashi says about the children of Gad that they were mighty, as it says of them, He will tear off arm, as well as head, which is explained by Rashi there as both being torn off together in one fell swoop – an obvious sign of might.
Ramban, here says that the children of Gad spoke before the children of Reuven spoke because they were the mightier, and they were thus not afraid to live in the land without their brethren.
