The Charge To The Two and a Half Tribes Settling In Transjordan (Deuteronomy 3:18-22).
The great victories over Sihon and Og having been described, along with the giving of their land to the two and a half tribes of Israel, the charge is now given for the advancement on the land proper. It is given, first to the two and a half tribes in response to their reception of their land, and then to Joshua on behalf of all the people.
When Moses had agreed that the land west of the Jordan which had been taken from the Amorites should be given to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, it was on condition that their warriors of over twenty years of age would pass over Jordan with their fellow-Israelites to assist in settling the land (Numbers 32). He now charged them to be faithful to that promise.
This passage may be analysed as follows:
Yahweh has given Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh their land to possess it (Deuteronomy 3:18 a).
a They were commanded that, having been given their land, all their men of valour must pass over armed before the children of Israel when they enter Canaan (Deuteronomy 3:18).
b Meanwhile their wives, little ones (children under twenty) and cattle (of which they have much) will abide in the cities that they have been given in Transjordan (Deuteronomy 3:19).
c And this is to be until the other nine and a half tribes are also given rest by Yahweh (Deuteronomy 3:20 a).
c And possess their land in Beyond Jordan westwards (Deuteronomy 3:20 b).
b Then they may return every man to his possession which they have been given (Deuteronomy 3:20 c).
a Joshua is informed that what Yahweh has done to the two kings, so He will do to all the kingdoms in the place where they are going over the Jordan, and they need not fear for it is Yahweh Who fights for them (Deuteronomy 3:21-22).
Note that in ‘a' it was Yahweh Who gave their land to the two and a half tribes so that they could possess it, and in the parallel it is confirmed that He will do the same beyond the Jordan. In ‘b' their families will settle in to their new cities, and in the parallel when the conquest is completed their menfolk can return to the land of their possessions. In ‘c' the remainder of the tribes are also to be ‘given rest' and in the parallel they are to possess their land.
‘ And I commanded you at that time, saying, “Yahweh your God has given you this land to possess it. You shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valour.'
In return for Yahweh giving them the land west of Jordan, the ‘men of valour' of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh were to pass over Jordan ahead of their brothers the children if Israel. That is, they were to go forward ready for battle, along with the fighting men, ‘the men of valour' of the remaining tribes.
‘ But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that you have much cattle), shall abide in your cities which I have given you, until Yahweh give rest to your brethren, as to you, and they also possess the land which Yahweh your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then shall you return every man to his possession, which I have given you.'
Meanwhile their womenfolk and youngsters, together with their cattle, would settle the land and take possession of it. Protection would be afforded by Yahweh watching over them, by those under twenty able to fight, and by the older men who would be considered too old for battle, but would still be able to fight and defend cities if called on. Once all the tribes had found rest in the land they would then be able to return to the land of their possession (compare Joshua 22:9). The dangers would not be too great. Their neighbours Edom. Moab and Ammon had had plenty of opportunity to see the victorious nature of the Israelite army and would hesitate to bring their wrath down on themselves.
By this Moses emphasised to them the need for them all to work together if they were to achieve their object of peace and security in the land. It was also a statement of confidence that their aim would be achieved. It was not a question of ‘if', but ‘when'. He was seeking to build up confidence and loyalty.
“I know that you have much cattle.” They had brought cattle through the wilderness, but these had been hugely added to by the conquests of Sihon and Og (Deuteronomy 2:35; Deuteronomy 3:7). This was already a sign of how Yahweh was providing for His people in readiness for their entry into the land, further evidence that He was intending to carry His purposes through. To have much cattle was to the ancients' the sign of being wealthy.
We learn from all this that if we are faithful to God all our enemies will finally be thwarted, and as a result we will enjoy great spiritual wealth. However great our enemies may seem none will finally be able to stand against God.
The Charge To Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:21-22)
Note the combination of singular and plural verbs. The charge to Joshua is a charge to all the people.
‘ And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, “Your (thy) eyes have seen all that Yahweh your (of ye) God has done to these two kings. So shall Yahweh do to all the kingdoms to which you (thou) go over. You shall not fear them, for Yahweh your (of ye) God, he it is who fights for you.”
He then applied the lesson of the two kings of the Amorites, which he had previously applied to Joshua, to his hearers. They are to remember what God did with respect to those two kings and their armies. He had brought about their total defeat and extinction. So would Yahweh their God do to all against whom they had to fight in the land as they conducted their holy war. They need not fear them, because Yahweh would be fighting for them. For through them He was bringing his judgment on those nations.
Joshua is naturally spoken of as ‘thou', but this immediately moves to ‘your (of ye)' as his people are brought to mind.