יהושע, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ב׳

The long years of battle and settling the land have finally come to a close. Joshua gathers the tribes who live across the Jordan River to express his deep appreciation for their unwavering loyalty and fulfillment of their promises.

The primary approach among commentators is that this praise traces back to the original order given by Moses. He required these tribes to march as an advance guard ahead of the rest of the Israelites, fighting alongside them in the heavy battles to conquer the land. Building on this, [מלבי״ם] explains that Moses demanded even more than mere military assistance. He required them to remain with the nation long after the fighting stopped, staying until the entire land was fully divided and distributed among the people. The tribes' precise dedication to this extended condition earned them profound recognition.

In addition to honoring their agreement with Moses, the tribes are commended for their dedication to Joshua's leadership. Commentators offer two complementary ways to understand this obedience. On one hand, [ביאור שטיינזלץ] views this as an extra layer of praise. Not only did they honor the original terms set by Moses, but they also flawlessly followed every direct order Joshua gave them throughout the long military campaign. On the other hand, [מלבי״ם] suggests that their complete obedience to Joshua was not a separate achievement, but rather the practical, day-to-day fulfillment of Moses' original command. By following Joshua's every instruction, they effectively brought Moses' vision to life.