Matos-Masei

The pesukim mention that Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven asked Moshe Rabeinu to receive land on the other side of the Yarden. They said “we will enter before Bnei Yisrael and fight; we won’t return until after we have helped conquer and Bnei Yisrael are settled in their land.” Moshe Rabeinu said to them, “if you enter and fight ‘לפני ה’ למלחמה, before Hashem in battle,’ then after you conquer, you can return home.” This implies that they should fight, but they don’t need to stay around afterwards while the land was being divided.

In Parshas Devarim, Moshe Rabeinu asked Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven to stay around until after conquering and dividing the land, as it states, “עד אשר יניח ה’ לאחיכם ככם וירשו גם הם, until Hashem settles for your brothers like you, and they too will inherit.” The Malbim asks: why in our Parsha was there no need to ask for Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven to stay around until after the dividing of the land, while in Parshas Devarim, Moshe did indeed request for them to remain until after dividing the land?

The Malbim answers that there were two types of possible battles which could take place. There could be a natural war or a super-natural war. If they would enter and fight with one hundred percent emunah in Hashem and proper intentions, then Hashem would lead the way. The pesukim in our Parsha mention a number of times the words “לפני ה’,” while in Parshas Devarim it is not mentioned. This hints that if Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven would enter “לפני ה’,” with complete faith and trust, then Hashem would cause their enemies to fall in a miraculous way. However, if they would not put their full trust in Hashem, they would have to physically fight the battle with their own might and strength. In this instance, Hashem would only help them win in a natural way.

Therefore, explains the Malbim, if Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven would enter the land with full bitachon, they could return immediately because there would be no fear of the enemies. Whereas if they would fight naturally, then throughout the entire time there would still remain the fear of the enemies; so they would need to stay until the war would be completely over including the dividing up of the land.

May we put our full faith and trust in Hashem and be zoche to a special hashgacha!