Be ‘Right’

The descendants of Reuven and Gad express their interest in remaining on the eastern side of the Jordan River, rather than crossing to the Promised Land. Moshe’s response to them is, “Shall your brothers go to war while you stay here?” He then questions them with, “Why do you discourage the Jewish nation from crossing over to the land which God has given them?”

At first glance, this order of questioning seems backwards. One would think that the potential discouragement of the rest of the nation from entering the land would be the more pressing concern. If the other tribes are discouraged by their actions and decide not to fight, the entire planned war could fall apart. However, if Reuven and Gad merely choose not to fight, the others could theoretically still proceed, albeit with a smaller army. Why then, does Moshe first address the personal aspect of their decision over the more pressing concern that everything could fall apart?

When looking at this on a deeper level, the order does indeed make perfect sense, and here’s why: Moshe’s first question, “Shall your brothers go to war while you stay here?” is personal and direct. This question demonstrates the inherent wrongness of their thought process, independent of its consequences. Moshe emphasizes that their choice is fundamentally flawed, and this failing is significant in its own right. The second question, concerning the potential discouragement of the other tribes, highlights the consequences of their actions. It is indeed a serious concern, but it is secondary to the primary issue: the personal responsibility of Reuven and Gad to do the right thing. By addressing their personal responsibility first, Moshe, as the ultimate leader of the Jewish nation is teaching us a critical lesson: the importance of doing what is right is always the key question, and this is secondary to potential outcomes or external repercussions.

This approach is particularly relevant across our daily lives as well, as often, we may focus on the strategic or practical aspects of our decisions, considering what will yield the best results or how others will react, the “don’t be right, be smart” mentality. However, Moshe’s response reminds us that the foundation of our actions should be rooted in doing what is intrinsically right. The consequences, while crucial and important, are secondary to the primary obligation of acting with integrity by doing the right thing. Real long-term personal growth comes from prioritizing righteousness, and by doing so, we not only uphold our own integrity but also set a powerful example for others to follow.

Shabbat Shalom!