Eastern Bank of the Jordan

Found 11 Search results

1. The Episode of Reuven and Gad

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   The episode involving the tribes of Gad and Reuven is written in great detail. The conditions to receiving the land in the Transjordan are repeated twice. What is the purpose of the lengthy description? Why are the conditions repeated twice? What is the relationship between this story and the description in Devarim?

2. Settling the Lands East of the Jordan

   Rabbi Michael Hattin

   Moshe eventually agrees to settle the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River. The Eastern Tribes later build an altar on the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, nearly inciting civil war in order to bridge the gap. The splitting of the tribe of Menashe is an attempt to maintain a connection between the peoples on the two sides of the Jordan.

3. A Possession Before the Lord (Bamidbar 32:22)

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman

   The request of Bnei Gad and Reuven positions them outside of the Promised Land, outside of God's plan for the historical future of His people, and even outside of the heritage of Avraham. Moshe’s counter-offer depends on the the loyalty Bnei Gad and Reuven promise their brothers, as well as loyalty to the land of their brothers, and to God.

4. Avoiding Another Kadesh Barnea

   Rabbi David Silverberg

   Moshe’s history lesson is designed to avoid a repetition of the sin of the spies. To this end, the conquering of the Emmorite kings is described as premeditated and the tension regarding the Eastern tribes is downplayed. The commentators offer various explanations as to the relationship of the appointing of judges to the sin of the spies.

5. The Storm (Part 4)

   Eliyahu's Journey to His Place of Ascent (II)

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Eliyahu is commanded to pass through Beit El and Yeriho in order to part from the Bnei Ha’Nevi’im. The reader, Elisha and the Bnei Ha’Nevi’im know that Eliyahu is departing today but it is spoken as a secret. Eliyahu's journey is the inverse of the journey of conquest of the land in the days of Yehoshua. In the same place where Bnei Yisrael readied themselves for the conquest of the land, on the plains of Yeriho – right there Eliyahu departs from Am Yisrael and from Eretz Yisrael.

6. The Borders of the Land of Israel

   Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

   Why are the borders of the Land of Israel not defined more clearly? Should they include everywhere from the Nile to Euphrates, or do they range from Dan to Beer-Sheva? This shiur examines the biblical roots of this complicated problem.

7. "Renew Our Days as of Old"

   Rabbi Michael Hattin

   The tenth chapter of Sefer Shoftim, occurring about midway through the book, is transitional in character. After the death of Avimelekh, the book records two minor judges : Tola' son of Pua from the tribe of Yissachar, and Yair of Gil'ad from the Transjordanian branch of the tribe of Menashe - who shared the same name as his illustrious ancestor, but not the same success.  Both served for a total of 45 years but precious little is recorded of their exploits.  In fact, the text does not even mention the oppressor from whom they rescued the people. With the demise of the two minor judges that followed Avimelech, the book again reverts to the convention of recounting Israelite betrayal and Divine displeasure, in order to indicate that we are now about to embark upon another new historical era, marked by further decline.

8. Refuting the Claim of the Ammonites

   Rabbi Michael Hattin

   Long gone and forgotten were the Otniels of illustrious lineage and the Devoras of prophetic inspiration.  Now the people only deserved to be guided by a man of problematic pedigree who was himself gainfully employed in the infamous career of brigandage.Yiftah's "promising" introduction thus recalls a long line of other unsung Biblical heroes, people who rose from obscurity, infamy, or the performance of questionable acts to achieve renown. Like Yiftah, David is expelled from society and like Yiftah he gathers to him a group of people with questionable backgrounds.

   Yiftah's claim to the king of Ammon is explained in great geographical and historical detail.

9. The Fall and Rise of Yisrael

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   During Yehu's reign Aram, headed by Hazael occupy the Eastern bank of the Jordan. In Yehoahaz's time the situation becomes direr as Aram imposes a full demilitarization of Israel. The turnaround begins in the days of Yoash who receives a deathbed prophecy from Elisha of a victory over Aram and peaks in the time of Yerovam ben Yoash who receives a prophecy from Yona ben Amitai and restores the Northern border to a magnitude previously witnessed only during the days of David and Shlomo. While historians describe the decline of Aram due to the rise of Assyria, the book of Kings describes a divine process which is surprisingly almost entirely devoid of any repentance. 

   Does the outcome of the prophetic action that Elisha preforms with Yoash on his deathbed actually have an impact on the outcome in reality?

   Is the resurrection from death of the man who came in contact with Elisha's buried bones just another miracle of Elisha or does it symbolize a national resurrection?

10. Why Were We Commanded Twice?

    Rabbi Meir Spiegelman

11. Matot - Family or Flocks

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 17 minutes

    In Parashat Mattot, the men of  Gad and Reuven request the eastern side of Jordan as an inheritance. Their request troubles Moshe, and though it is granted (with some modifications), it should trouble us as well. What are our priorities, and what were theirs? They were so consumed by thoughts of their flocks and riches, and thought they could influence their children even without seeing them often - by telling great stories and building a great altar. It didn't happen as they imagined, though, and their children became distant from the other Israelites. We, too, must ensure that we have our priorities straight, and that we put our family at the forefront of our minds.