Numbers 34:14 - Tribes' inheritance divided eastward

Inheritance of Reuven, Gad, and Half of Menashe

The verse (Bamidbar 34:14) describes the allocation of land east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe. This follows their earlier request in Bamidbar 32 to settle there due to its suitability for their livestock (Rashi on Bamidbar 32:1).

Why Only Half of Menashe?

The inclusion of half of Menashe is noteworthy, as they were not part of the original request. Ramban (Bamidbar 32:33) explains that Moshe added them to strengthen the spiritual connection to Eretz Yisrael, as Menashe was descended from Yosef, who maintained his Jewish identity in Egypt. This created a bridge between the eastern tribes and the rest of Israel.

Spiritual Concerns and Tribal Unity

• The Meshech Chochmah notes that separating from the main body of Israel risked weakening their connection to Torah (Devarim 3:18-20).
• The Sforno emphasizes that their inheritance was still "according to the house of their fathers," maintaining tribal lineage despite geographical separation.
• Talmud (Bava Basra 121b) discusses how this arrangement fulfilled Yaakov's blessing to Yosef (Bereishis 48:22) of an extra portion.

Lessons in Land Allocation

The Kli Yakar highlights that this teaches the principle of nachala (inheritance) being tied to ancestral houses, showing the Divine wisdom in tribal boundaries. Even when settling outside the main land, their portion remained inseparable from their tribal identity and connection to the greater nation.