Why Reuben and Gad Were First Into Exile Over Their Livestock

The Sages taught: Two wise men arose in the world, one from Israel and one from the nations of the world. Balaam was from the nations of the world, and Ahitophel was from Israel; and both of them were lost from this world and from the world to come. [Two mighty men arose in the world, one from Israel and one from the nations of the world. Samson was from Israel, and Goliath was from the nations of the world; and both of them were lost from the world.] Two wealthy men arose in the world, Korah from Israel and Haman from the nations of the world; and both of them were lost from the world. Why? Because their gift was not from Heaven. And so too you find with the children of Gad and the children of Reuben, who were exceedingly wealthy and had a great amount of livestock, and they cherished the livestock, and they settled outside the land of Israel. Therefore they went into exile first among the tribes, as it is said (I Chronicles 5:26): “And he carried them into exile, the Reubenites and the Gadites.” [What caused this for them? Because they separated themselves from their brothers for the sake of their livestock. And from where is this shown? From what they read on the matter (Numbers 32:1): “Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had much livestock.”]