תּוֹרָה קד

Torah 104

The reason why it states in the Midrash — because Moshe said to the sons of Gad etc.: ""a breed of sinful men"" — he was punished in that his grandson worshipped the idol of Michah — see the main text. [For Moshe our Teacher, peace be upon him, suspected them of having no desire whatsoever for the Land of Israel. And one who dwells outside the Land is likened to one who has no G-d. And one who suspects the worthy is smitten in his body — and is punished measure for measure. (Yet since he did not suspect them of actual idol worship — only of something resembling it — therefore also his grandson did not worship actual idol worship but something that appeared to be so — and was also in the category of resemblance. And just as Moshe our Teacher, peace be upon him, sinned through being mistaken in their intention — so too the sin of his grandson was also through a misinterpretation of the very words of Moshe our Teacher, peace be upon him, as our Sages of blessed memory said: ""this is what I received"" etc. — and they were worthy in the matter for they wished to receive a portion in the Land as well — as is cited. The intention is about what is stated that in the future the land of Sichon and Og will be included in the Land of Israel — and they thought the redemption would come in their days.)]