(ד) הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לִפְנֵי֙ עֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶ֥רֶץ מִקְנֶ֖ה הִ֑וא וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מִקְנֶֽה׃ (ס) (ה) וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אִם־מָצָ֤אנוּ חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ יֻתַּ֞ן אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לַעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ לַאֲחֻזָּ֑ה אַל־תַּעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (ו) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִבְנֵי־גָ֖ד וְלִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן הַאַֽחֵיכֶ֗ם יָבֹ֙אוּ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתֶּ֖ם תֵּ֥שְׁבוּ פֹֽה׃ (ז) וְלָ֣מָּה תנואון [תְנִיא֔וּן] אֶת־לֵ֖ב בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֵֽעֲבֹר֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃ (ח) כֹּ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּשָׁלְחִ֥י אֹתָ֛ם מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Later in the parsha, Moshe is approached by the tribes of Reuven and Gad with a request. They've noticed that the grazing lands on the eastern side of the Jordan are perfect for their many flocks, and they'd like to live there, instead of settling in Canaan. Moshe does not look kindly on their request.
In fact, he offers harsh words. In pasuk 7, he uses the verb תניאון, the plural, future tense form of the verb we highlighted before, הניא. These are the only two times the Torah mentions this verb.
What is Moshe saying? He asks, "why do you want to restrain your brethren from fulfilling God's promise? Why are you questioning the wisdom of this Divine promise? Why are you acting like the spies of 40 years ago?
When a father or a husband nullify a vow, it is the ideal response. The vow itself was problematic, and הֵנִיא אָבִיהָ אֹתָהּ is the appropriate solution. This is not the case, however with the sons of Reuven and Gad. Because their act of nullification, or at least weakening, is in response to God’s oath. Only God should make vows or oaths to do or not to do something. People should not.
The proximity of the two passages helps us appreciate this point and understand the difference between God, who always honors His promises, and man, who is fickle and changes his loyalties to suit his needs and interests. May we measure our words carefully and use them to improve the lives of the people around us.