מטות, שישי

עטרות ודיבן וגו'. מֵאֶרֶץ סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג הָיוּ:

Ataros, Divon, etc. They were part of the land of Sichon and Og.

האחיכם. לְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָה הוּא:

Should your brothers. This denotes a question.

ולמה תניאון. תָּסִירוּ וְתַמְנִיעוּ לִבָּם מֵעֲבֹר, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁאַתֶּם יְרֵאִים לַעֲבֹר מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה וְחֹזֶק הֶעָרִים וְהָעָם:

Why do you dishearten. Turn aside and restrain their hearts from crossing, for they will think that you are afraid to cross because of the war, and the strength of the cities and the people.

מקדש ברנע. כָּךְ שְׁמָהּ, וּשְׁתֵּי קָדֵשׁ הָיוּ:

From Kadeish Barnei’a. This was its name. There were two places named Kadeish.

הקנזי. חוֹרְגוֹ שֶׁל קְנַז הָיָה וְיָלְדָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ שֶׁל כָּלֵב אֶת עָתְנִיאֵל (סוטה י"א):

The Kenizite. He was Kaleiv’s stepfather, to whom Kaleiv’s mother bore Osniel.

וינעם. וַיְטַלְטְלֵם, מִן "נָע וָנָד" (בראשית ד):

He made them wander. He moved them about, as in “a wanderer and vagrant”

לספות. כְּמוֹ "סְפוּ שָׁנָה עַל שָׁנָה" (ישעיהו כ"ט), "עֹלוֹתֵיכֶם סְפוּ" וְגוֹ' (ירמיהו ז'), לְשׁוֹן תּוֹסֶפֶת:

To add. As in “add a year to a year,” “add your burnt-offerings, etc.” The word denotes addition.

נבנה למקננו פה. חָסִים הָיוּ עַל מָמוֹנָם יוֹתֵר מִבְּנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶם, שֶׁהִקְדִּימוּ מִקְנֵיהֶם לְטַפָּם. אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה "לֹא כֵן, עֲשׂוּ הָעִקָּר עִקָּר וְהַטָּפֵל טָפֵל, בְּנוּ לָכֶם תְּחִלָּה עָרִים לְטַפְּכֶם וְאַחַר כֵּן גְּדֵרוֹת לְצֹאנְכֶם" (תנחומא):

We will build [enclosures] for our flocks here. They were more concerned over their property than [over] their sons and daughters, for they gave precedence to their flocks over their children. Moshe said to them, ‘not so! Treat what is of major importance as such, and what is secondary as such. First build yourselves cities for your children, and afterward pens for your flocks.’

ואנחנו נחלץ חשים. נִזְדַּיֵּן מְהִירִים, כְּמוֹ "מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז" (ישעיהו ח'), "יְמַהֵר יָחִישָׁה" (שם ה'):

We will then arm ourselves rapidly. We will arm ourselves quickly, as in “quicken the spoil, hasten the plunder,” “let him hurry, hasten [his actions].”

לפני בני ישראל. בְּרָאשֵׁי גְּיָסוֹת, מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁגִּבּוֹרִים הָיוּ, שֶׁכֵּן נֶאֱמַר בְּגָד (דברים ל"ג) "וְטָרַף זְרוֹעַ אַף קָדְקֹד"; וְאַף מֹשֶׁה חָזַר וּפֵרֵשׁ לָהֶם בְּאֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים (דברים ג') "וָאֲצַו אֶתְכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִוא וְגוֹ' חֲלוּצִים תַּעַבְרוּ לִפְנֵי אֲחֵיכֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל בְּנֵי חָיִל", וּבִירִיחוֹ כְּתִיב (יהושע ו') "וְהֶחָלוּץ עוֹבֵר (הֹלֵךְ) לִפְנֵיהֶם" — זֶה רְאוּבֵן וְגָד שֶׁקִּיְּמוּ תְנָאָם:

Before Bnei Yisroel. At the head of the armies, since they were great warriors, as it is said concerning Gad, “he shall tear arms, skulls as well.” Moshe, too, reiterated specifically to them, in “These are the words”: “I commanded you at that time, etc., go forth armed before your brothers, Bnei Yisroel, all [you] great warriors.” And at Yericho it is written, “the armed force went before them” — they were [the sons of] Reuven and Gad, who fulfilled their condition.

וישב טפנו. בְּעוֹדֵנוּ אֵצֶל אַחֵינוּ:

Our children will dwell. When we are with our brothers.

בערי המבצר. שֶׁנִּבְנֶה עַכְשָׁו:

In fortified cities. Which we shall build now.

מעבר לירדן והלאה. בָּעֵבֶר הַמַּעֲרָבִי:

Across the Yardein and beyond. On the western bank.

כי באה נחלתנו. כְּבָר קִבַּלְנוּהָ בָּעֵבֶר הַמִּזְרָחִי:

For, our inheritance came to us. We have already received it, on the eastern bank.