The story begins with the tribes of Reuben and Gad. As Israel was in the process of conquering and dividing the land, these tribes, as the midrash tells it, had left young children behind. They asked for land on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Moses agreed, but with a crucial condition: they had to cross the Jordan and help the other tribes conquer the land from the Canaanites (Numbers 32:20–27).
Imagine the scene. These men settled their families east of the Jordan, then bravely joined their brothers in the grueling fourteen-year conquest and distribution of the land. Only after that arduous task were they allowed to return home, as Joshua instructed (Joshua 22:1–9).
Now, here's where it gets poignant. Think about the passage of time. A child left at ten years old was now twenty-four. Someone left at twenty was now thirty-four. Can you imagine the reunions? The years of separation?
But the story doesn't end there. Three wicked families – Yetur, Nafish, and Kedma – confronted them. I Chronicles 5:10 tells us, "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]." These families, descendants of Ishmael through Hagar (Genesis 25:13–15), were called Hagrites, after Ishmael’s mother.
Rabbi Yehoshua bar Neḥemya offers an interesting interpretation. He suggests that the "Saul" mentioned here might actually refer to Joshua. Why call him Saul (Sha’ul)? Because, according to Rabbi Yehoshua, the kingship was "borrowed" (she’ula) in his hand. This means that Joshua, along with the Judges and King Saul, were caretakers of the kingdom until the true king, a descendant of Judah, would take the throne.
Now, this is where it gets really interesting. The men and children of Reuben and Gad, along with the Ishmaelites, would grow their hair. Why? As a sign of anguish, the midrash says, until they could be reunited.
But this created a problem! When the fathers finally returned, they had trouble distinguishing their own children from the Ishmaelites. How could they tell them apart after so many years? What a heartbreaking and confusing situation that must have been.
So, what happened? The midrash says that the Holy One blessed be He placed something in the hearts of the children. They began to cry out: "Answer us, Lord, answer us, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Israel, answer us." I Chronicles 5:20 tells us, "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]."
But why were they answered? What was the merit behind this divine intervention? Rabbi Levi and other Rabbis offer two reasons. The Rabbis suggest it was due to Jacob's blessing: "Gad, a troop will slash his enemies." A troop will come to slash them, and they will slash the troop. Rabbi Levi, on the other hand, attributes it to Joshua's blessing, as recorded in Joshua 22:8: "He said to them, stating: [Return to your tents] with much wealth…[divide the spoils of your enemies with your brethren]."
So, what do we take away from this intricate tapestry of stories and interpretations? It's a story of dedication, hardship, and faith. It's about the sacrifices made for a greater cause, the pain of separation, and the power of prayer to bridge even the widest gaps. It reminds us that even in the most confusing and challenging times, a heartfelt cry can be heard, and that sometimes, the blessings of our ancestors can still resonate powerfully in our lives. What challenges are we facing today where we might draw strength from the faith and resilience of those who came before us?