“Gad, a troop will slash his enemies, and he will slash their heel” (Genesis 49:19). “Gad, a troop will slash his enemies” – when Israel was conquering and distributing the land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad were with them, and they had left their children when they were young.91These tribes asked for portions of land on the eastern side of the Jordan. Moses agreed, on the condition that they would cross the Jordan and aid the rest of the tribes in conquering the land from the Canaanite nations (see Numbers 32:20–27).
The men of these tribes settled their families on the eastern side of the Jordan, aided the rest of the tribes during the fourteen years of conquest and distribution of the land, and only then returned to their families, at the behest of Joshua (see Joshua 22:1–9). One whom they left at the age of ten, they found him twenty-four years old. One whom they left at the age of twenty they found him thirty-four years old.
Three wicked families confronted them: Yetur, Nafish, and Kedma; that is what is written: “In the days of Saul, they waged war with the Hagrites, [who fell into their hand, and they dwelled in their tents across all the east of the Gilad]” (I Chronicles 5:10).92The families of Yetur, Nafish, and Kedma descended from Ishmael (see Genesis 25:13–15). They are called Hagrites after Hagar, Ishmael’s mother.
Rabbi Yehoshua bar Neḥemya said: “In the days of Saul” – this is Joshua. Why does it call him Saul [Sha’ul]? Because the kingship was borrowed [she’ula] in his hand.93Joshua, the Judges, and King Saul were caretakers of the kingdom until the true king, a descendant of the tribe of Judah, would assume the throne. These would grow their hair, and those would grow their hair; these would grow their hair until they would see their children, and these would grow their hair until they would see their fathers.94The men and children of Reuben and Gad would grow their hair as a sign of anguish until they could be reunited.
And the Ishmaelites would grow their hair.95Consequently, when they returned, the fathers had difficulty distinguishing between their children and the Ishmaelites. The Holy One blessed be He placed into the heart of the children, and they would say: ‘Answer us, Lord, answer us, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Israel, answer us.’ That is what is written: “They were aided against them, and the Hagrites…were delivered into their hand, [for they cried out to God in the battle, and He acceded to their entreaty]” (I Chronicles 5:20).
Due to what merit? Rabbi Levi and the Rabbis: The Rabbis said: Due to the blessing of Jacob, who said: “Gad, a troop will slash his enemies,” a troop will come to slash them and they will slash the troop. Rabbi Levi said: Due to the blessing of Joshua. That is what is written: “He said to them, stating: [Return to your tents] with much wealth…[divide the spoils of your enemies with your brethren]” (Joshua 22:8).