Deuteronomy 29:7 - Tribes inherit conquered lands

Context of the Verse

This verse (Devarim 3:12) appears in Moshe's recounting of the conquest of the lands east of the Jordan River (Ever HaYarden) and their subsequent allocation to the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe. This event is first described in Bamidbar 32, where these tribes request this land due to its suitability for their livestock.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Devarim 3:12) notes that the phrase "וַנִּקַּח אֶת־אַרְצָם" ("and we took their land") refers to the conquest of the lands of Sichon and Og, two powerful kings whose territories were captured by Bnei Yisrael. Rashi emphasizes that this conquest was miraculous, as these were formidable enemies, yet Hashem delivered them into Bnei Yisrael's hands.

Allocation to the Tribes

The verse specifies that the land was given as an inheritance (נַחֲלָה) to Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe. The Ramban (Bamidbar 32:33) explains that this allocation was conditional upon these tribes first assisting the rest of Bnei Yisrael in conquering Eretz Yisrael proper (west of the Jordan). This condition is detailed in Bamidbar 32:20-22.

Half-Tribe of Menashe

The inclusion of half of Menashe is noteworthy. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 22:7) suggests that Menashe was split because they were descendants of Yosef, who had a special connection to these lands (as Yosef's bones were later buried in Shechem, in the territory of Menashe). Additionally, the Da'at Zekeinim notes that Menashe was a large tribe, and splitting them ensured a balanced distribution of land.

Spiritual Significance

• The Kli Yakar (Devarim 3:12) highlights that this episode teaches the importance of unity among the tribes. Despite settling outside the main land, these tribes remained committed to the collective mission of Bnei Yisrael.
• The Sforno adds that the inheritance was carefully apportioned to ensure each tribe received land suited to their needs, reflecting Hashem's providence in settling Bnei Yisrael.