Shiur Parshiyos Mattos Massei 5785

The story starts off so simply. The tribes of Reuven and Gad have a tremendous amount of cattle. They observe that the land of Sichon and Og, that Hashem has already granted the Jews, is lush with pasture and perfect for their animals. With humility, they approach Moshe Rabbeinu and the Jewish leaders and ask if they can accept their portion of Israel in the Transjordan, in exchange for their predestined portion in Israel.The consequences for their request seem difficult to understand:1. Moshe Rabbeinu accuses them of sending their brothers off to war while they remain in safety.2. Moshe compares them to the Meraglim. Expresses concern that they will elicit the same response from Hashem as the Meraglim did. 3. Rashi says they valued their livestock more than their sons and daughters.4. The Midrash compared them to Achitophel, Shimshon and Korach. All of whom did ‘not receive their gifts from Hashem, but grabbed them for themselves.’ And as a result were lost from the world.5. Approximately 600 years later, When Sancheirev exiled the 10 tribes, Reuven and Gad were exiled 8 years before the rest.מקורותבמדבר פרק ל״ב פסוקים א׳ - כ״דפירש״י פסוק ט״ז ד״ה נבנה למקנינו פהמדרש רבה במדבר פרשה כ״ב אות ז׳תלמוד בבלי סנהדרין ק״א ע״בפירש״י פרשת קרח פרק ט״ז פסוק ז׳פי׳ החת״ס על ההפטורה פרשת נשא ד״ה והוא יחל להושיע את ישראלתלמוד בבלי סוטה דף ט׳ ע״בפירש״י פרשת וזאת הברכה פרק ל״ג פסוק כ״א ד״ה וירא ראשית לו וד״ה כי שם חלקתתלמוד בבלי סוטה י״ג ע״בפירש״י פרשת בהעלתך פרק י״א פסוק כ״ח