During a moment of severe national crisis, a sharp and ironic critique is directed at the tribe of Reuben for choosing passivity and neutrality over action. The tribe is confronted directly, highlighting the stark contrast between their expected duty and their actual behavior, raising deep questions about their hidden motives.
The primary approach among commentators notes that the tribe is questioned for their initial choice to settle along the dangerous borderlands separating the Land of Israel from surrounding nations. A community living on the frontier is expected to be courageous, always prepared to block advancing enemies. Therefore, it is baffling that they would choose such an exposed location if their hearts were filled with fear, causing them to shrink back during a time of distress [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון]. Conversely, others understand their location not as a border, but as the secure enclosures of their sheep pens. In this view, they sat safely and peacefully in their pastures, completely ignoring the suffering of the other tribes [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A more spiritual perspective suggests they abandoned the study halls of the Sanhedrin, trading spiritual pursuits within the Land of Israel for a purely material life across the Jordan river [אלשיך].
The critique deepens by mocking the tribe's preference for the quiet life of shepherds. Rather than marching into battle, they chose to sit back and listen to the gentle whistling sounds used to gather their sheep [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם, אלשיך]. However, some commentators offer a more chilling, metaphorical understanding of these sounds. One view suggests that the tribe sat at a safe distance, listening closely to the armies in battle merely to gauge the sounds of victory or defeat, entirely unwilling to intervene [רש״י]. Another perspective argues that the sounds they heard were actually the desperate cries of the Israelites being attacked by the enemy, yet the tribe remained complacent and indifferent in their place [רלב״ג].
Ultimately, the tribe's inaction and decision to separate from the rest of the nation during a war demands deep investigation to uncover the true motives behind their indifference [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. Their endless consultations and divided hearts are presented as a mockery of their calculated neutrality [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This failure in mutual responsibility can be traced back to their original choice to move away from the Land of Israel simply to protect their wealth [אלשיך]. Standing in stark contrast to the need for a deep investigation, an opposing view argues that searching for hidden motives is entirely unnecessary. The selfish reasons for their evasion of duty are obvious and well-known, leaving no mystery to be solved [מלבי״ם].