So, Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh decide to stay east of the river. Seeing that the land of Gilead was good, that they had already driven out the rulers, if not all the people, before them, they chose to take their inheritance early rather than settle west of the Jordan with the rest of the group. Their promise to be faithful in helping to subdue and win the Promised Land bought them the tract outside it. But I wonder if the land was really "as good" as they hoped? Perhaps their cattle grazed there with little problem, but being separated from the rest of the tribes, would they be as protected? Would eventually misunderstanding crop up? Would the unity of Israel be affected? What's even more interesting to me is that Gad and Reuben and Manasseh do go with the Northern Kingdom of Israel when the split comes someday--or they disappear. I know that it was Judah and Benjamin alone that remained loyal to David's descendants. We'll have to see what happens to them in the future, as we are coming up to the historical books after Deuteronomy.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 33:1-56
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