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Tim Maas
Supporter
After the Israelites had made their exodus from Egypt, and after their forty years of wandering in the Sinai wilderness, the tribes of Israel were preparing to proceed west across the Jordan River into the "promised land" of Canaan. At that point, the tribes of Gad and Reuben asked Moses to be allowed to remain on the east side of the river because the terrain on the east side was better suited to the large numbers of flocks and herds they possessed. Moses was initially angered by this request, because he knew that, after the Jordan River would be crossed, Israel would be involved in extended warfare against the pagan nations inhabiting Canaan, and he viewed the request of Gad and Reuben as an attempt on their part to avoid taking part in the fighting that he knew was ahead. His anger was placated when the tribes of Gad and Reuben collectively promised to actively participate in the upcoming fighting, as long as they would be allowed to permanently settle on the east side of the Jordan once the fighting was over, and the nations in Canaan had been completely conquered.
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