Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 32 (Parashat Matot-Masei)

Bamidbar 32:1

וּמִקְנֶה רַב הָיָה לִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְלִבְנֵי-גָד--עָצוּם מְאֹד וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-אֶרֶץ יַעְזֵר וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ גִּלְעָד וְהִנֵּה הַמָּקוֹם מְקוֹם מִקְנֶה

. . ]] ]] . . .

And livestock, numerous, belonged to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad — very great. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, it was a place for livestock.

Bamidbar 32:2

וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי-גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶל-נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר

. .

And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came, and said to Moses and Eleazar the imām and to the nobles of the congregation, saying:

Bamidbar 32:3

עֲטָרוֹת וְדִיבֹן וְיַעְזֵר וְנִמְרָה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵה וּשְׂבָם וּנְבוֹ וּבְעֹן

. .

that Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elaleh, and Sibam, and Nebo, and Beon —

Bamidbar 32:4

הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יְהוָה לִפְנֵי עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל--אֶרֶץ מִקְנֶה הִוא וְלַעֲבָדֶיךָ מִקְנֶה

. . .

the land which God opened before the congregation of the sons of Israel — it is a land suited for livestock, and your servants have livestock.

Bamidbar 32:5

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִם-מָצָאנוּ חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ--יֻתַּן אֶת-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לַעֲבָדֶיךָ לַאֲחֻזָּה אַל-תַּעֲבִרֵנוּ אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן

. . .

And they said: if we have found favor with you, let this land be given over to us as an inheritance; do not bring us across the Jordan.

Bamidbar 32:6

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לִבְנֵי-גָד וְלִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן הַאַחֵיכֶם יָבֹאוּ לַמִּלְחָמָה וְאַתֶּם תֵּשְׁבוּ פֹה

. .

And Moses said to them: shall your brothers go forth to war while you sit here?

Bamidbar 32:7

וְלָמָּה תנואון (תְנִיאוּן) אֶת-לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--מֵעֲבֹר אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-נָתַן לָהֶם יְהוָה

. .

And why do you make the hearts of the sons of Israel faint from journeying to the land which God has given them?

Bamidbar 32:8

כֹּה עָשׂוּ אֲבֹתֵיכֶם בְּשָׁלְחִי אֹתָם מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ לִרְאוֹת אֶת-הָאָרֶץ

. .

Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to scout out the land.

Bamidbar 32:9

וַיַּעֲלוּ עַד-נַחַל אֶשְׁכּוֹל וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ וַיָּנִיאוּ אֶת-לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--לְבִלְתִּי-בֹא אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-נָתַן לָהֶם יְהוָה

. . . .

They reached the Valley of the Cluster and saw the land, and they made the hearts of the sons of Israel faint, so that they would not enter the land which God had given them.

Bamidbar 32:10

וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיִּשָּׁבַע לֵאמֹר

.

And God's wrath intensified at that time, and He swore, saying:

Bamidbar 32:11

אִם-יִרְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָעֹלִים מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה אֵת הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב כִּי לֹא-מִלְאוּ אַחֲרָי

. . . .

'The men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall not see the land which I swore to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob — since they did not follow My obedience.

Bamidbar 32:12

בִּלְתִּי כָּלֵב בֶּן-יְפֻנֶּה הַקְּנִזִּי וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן כִּי מִלְאוּ אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה

. .

Except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the obedience of God.'

Bamidbar 32:13

וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְנִעֵם בַּמִּדְבָּר אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה--עַד-תֹּם כָּל-הַדּוֹר הָעֹשֶׂה הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה

. . .

And when God's wrath intensified against them, He led them astray in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation that had done evil before God had perished.

Bamidbar 32:14

וְהִנֵּה קַמְתֶּם תַּחַת אֲבֹתֵיכֶם--תַּרְבּוּת אֲנָשִׁים חַטָּאִים לִסְפּוֹת עוֹד עַל חֲרוֹן אַף-יְהוָה--אֶל-יִשְׂרָאֵל

. .

And behold, you have risen in the place of your fathers — in the teachings of sinful people — to add yet more to the intensity of God's wrath against the house of Israel.

Bamidbar 32:15

כִּי תְשׁוּבֻן מֵאַחֲרָיו וְיָסַף עוֹד לְהַנִּיחוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר וְשִׁחַתֶּם לְכָל-הָעָם הַזֶּה

. .

For if you turn back from His obedience, He will increase His leaving them in the wilderness, and you will bring destruction upon these people if they hold to your view.

Bamidbar 32:16

וַיִּגְּשׁוּ אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ גִּדְרֹת צֹאן נִבְנֶה לְמִקְנֵנוּ פֹּה וְעָרִים לְטַפֵּנוּ

. .

Then they came forward to him and said: we will build enclosures for our livestock here, and towns for our children.

Bamidbar 32:17

וַאֲנַחְנוּ נֵחָלֵץ חֻשִׁים לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם-הֲבִיאֹנֻם אֶל-מְקוֹמָם וְיָשַׁב טַפֵּנוּ בְּעָרֵי הַמִּבְצָר מִפְּנֵי יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ

. . . .

And we shall arm ourselves swiftly before the sons of Israel, until we bring them to their place; and our children shall dwell in fortified towns, on account of the inhabitants of the land.

Bamidbar 32:18

לֹא נָשׁוּב אֶל-בָּתֵּינוּ--עַד הִתְנַחֵל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִישׁ נַחֲלָתוֹ

.

We shall not return to our homes until every tribe of the sons of Israel has obtained its inheritance.

Bamidbar 32:19

כִּי לֹא נִנְחַל אִתָּם מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן וָהָלְאָה כִּי בָאָה נַחֲלָתֵנוּ אֵלֵינוּ מֵעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן מִזְרָחָה

. . .

For we shall not inherit with them from across the Jordan onward, since we have already received our inheritance from the eastern side of the Jordan.

Bamidbar 32:20

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם מֹשֶׁה אִם-תַּעֲשׂוּן אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אִם-תֵּחָלְצוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לַמִּלְחָמָה

. .

And Moses said to them: if you do this thing, and arm yourselves before God for the host,

Bamidbar 32:21

וְעָבַר לָכֶם כָּל-חָלוּץ אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן לִפְנֵי יְהוָה עַד הוֹרִישׁוֹ אֶת-אֹיְבָיו מִפָּנָיו

. .

and every armed man among you crosses the Jordan before Him, until He cuts off His enemies from before Him —

Bamidbar 32:22

וְנִכְבְּשָׁה הָאָרֶץ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְאַחַר תָּשֻׁבוּ--וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּם מֵיְהוָה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיְתָה הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לָכֶם לַאֲחֻזָּה--לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. . . . .

and when the land is opened before Him, after that you shall return, and you shall be acquitted before God and before the house of Israel, and this land shall be yours as a possession before Him —

Bamidbar 32:23

וְאִם-לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן הִנֵּה חֲטָאתֶם לַיהוָה וּדְעוּ חַטַּאתְכֶם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶתְכֶם

. .

but if you do not do thus, you have sinned against God; and acknowledge your sins when His punishment reaches you.

Bamidbar 32:24

בְּנוּ-לָכֶם עָרִים לְטַפְּכֶם וּגְדֵרֹת לְצֹנַאֲכֶם וְהַיֹּצֵא מִפִּיכֶם תַּעֲשׂוּ

. .

Build yourselves towns for your children, and enclosures for your flocks, and what has gone out of your mouth — carry it out.

Bamidbar 32:25

וַיֹּאמֶר בְּנֵי-גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵאמֹר עֲבָדֶיךָ יַעֲשׂוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲדֹנִי מְצַוֶּה

. .

They said to him: your servants shall do as our lord commands them.

Bamidbar 32:26

טַפֵּנוּ נָשֵׁינוּ מִקְנֵנוּ וְכָל-בְּהֶמְתֵּנוּ--יִהְיוּ-שָׁם בְּעָרֵי הַגִּלְעָד

. .

Our children and our women, our livestock and the rest of our beasts, shall dwell in the land of Gilead.

Bamidbar 32:27

וַעֲבָדֶיךָ יַעַבְרוּ כָּל-חֲלוּץ צָבָא לִפְנֵי יְהוָה--לַמִּלְחָמָה כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲדֹנִי דֹּבֵר

. . .

And your servants shall cross over, every armed man among them for the host, before God, for the war — as our lord has said.

Bamidbar 32:28

וַיְצַו לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה אֵת אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְאֵת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן וְאֶת-רָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹת הַמַּטּוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. .

And Moses gave instructions concerning them to Eleazar the imām and Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel.

Bamidbar 32:29

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֲלֵהֶם אִם-יַעַבְרוּ בְנֵי-גָד וּבְנֵי-רְאוּבֵן אִתְּכֶם אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן כָּל-חָלוּץ לַמִּלְחָמָה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְנִכְבְּשָׁה הָאָרֶץ לִפְנֵיכֶם--וּנְתַתֶּם לָהֶם אֶת-אֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד לַאֲחֻזָּה

. . .

And he said: if every armed man among them crosses the Jordan with you for war before God, until the land is opened before you, then give them the land of Gilead as a possession.

Bamidbar 32:30

וְאִם-לֹא יַעַבְרוּ חֲלוּצִים אִתְּכֶם--וְנֹאחֲזוּ בְתֹכְכֶם בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן

.

But if they do not cross over armed with you, then let them receive a holding among you in the land of Canaan.

Bamidbar 32:31

וַיַּעֲנוּ בְנֵי-גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן לֵאמֹר אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל-עֲבָדֶיךָ כֵּן נַעֲשֶׂה

.

And they answered him and said to him: all that God has commanded — your servants — we shall carry out.

Bamidbar 32:32

נַחְנוּ נַעֲבֹר חֲלוּצִים לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן וְאִתָּנוּ אֲחֻזַּת נַחֲלָתֵנוּ מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן

. . .

We shall cross over armed before God to the land of Canaan, so that the possession of our inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan may be secured to us.

Bamidbar 32:33

וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לִבְנֵי-גָד וְלִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְלַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה בֶן-יוֹסֵף אֶת-מַמְלֶכֶת סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי וְאֶת-מַמְלֶכֶת עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן הָאָרֶץ לְעָרֶיהָ בִּגְבֻלֹת--עָרֵי הָאָרֶץ סָבִיב

. . . .

So Moses gave to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the land of the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the land of the kingdom of Og king of Bashan — the whole land with its towns, which are within its borders all around.

Bamidbar 32:34

וַיִּבְנוּ בְנֵי-גָד אֶת-דִּיבֹן וְאֶת-עֲטָרֹת וְאֵת עֲרֹעֵר

.

And the sons of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,

Bamidbar 32:35

וְאֶת-עַטְרֹת שׁוֹפָן וְאֶת-יַעְזֵר וְיָגְבְּהָה

and Atroth-shophan, and Jazer, and Jogbehah,

Bamidbar 32:36

וְאֶת-בֵּית נִמְרָה וְאֶת-בֵּית הָרָן עָרֵי מִבְצָר וְגִדְרֹת צֹאן

.

and Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran — fortified towns, and enclosures for flocks.

Bamidbar 32:37

וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן בָּנוּ אֶת-חֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶת-אֶלְעָלֵא וְאֵת קִרְיָתָיִם

.

And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elaleh, and Kiriathaim,

Bamidbar 32:38

וְאֶת-נְבוֹ וְאֶת-בַּעַל מְעוֹן מוּסַבֹּת שֵׁם--וְאֶת-שִׂבְמָה וַיִּקְרְאוּ בְשֵׁמֹת אֶת-שְׁמוֹת הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר בָּנוּ

. .

and Nebo, and Baal-meon — their names being transferred — and Sibmah; for they gave names to the towns which they built as they saw fit.

Bamidbar 32:39

וַיֵּלְכוּ בְּנֵי מָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה גִּלְעָדָה--וַיִּלְכְּדֻהָ וַיּוֹרֶשׁ אֶת-הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר-בָּהּ

.

Then the sons of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and drove out the Amorite who was in it.

Bamidbar 32:40

וַיִּתֵּן מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הַגִּלְעָד לְמָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה וַיֵּשֶׁב בָּהּ

. .

And Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled in it.

Bamidbar 32:41

וְיָאִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה הָלַךְ וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת-חַוֹּתֵיהֶם וַיִּקְרָא אֶתְהֶן חַוֹּת יָאִיר

. .

And Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their villages, and called them the Villages of Jair.

Bamidbar 32:42

וְנֹבַח הָלַךְ וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת-קְנָת וְאֶת-בְּנֹתֶיהָ וַיִּקְרָא לָה נֹבַח בִּשְׁמוֹ

. .

And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its districts, and called it Nobah after his own name.