After the final campaign east of the Jordan river, the nation is ready to advance into Israel and enter the Promised Land.

But there are two, eventually two-and-a-half, tribes that want to stay in the land they have recently conquered. They recognize the delicacy of the request. Israel is the Promised Land and they are willingly absenting themselves. What follows is a subtle but beautiful example of what it is to ask, and what it means to listen.

The Gadites and Reubenites approach Moses, Eliezer the priest, and the chieftains of the community (Numbers 32:2). We are told, “And they said.” This is followed by a recounting of the names of the lands they have conquered and the information that this land is “cattle country and your servants have cattle.”

The next word (ibid. 32:5) is “Vayomru” – and they said. The text continues, “It would be a favor to us if this land were given to us….” Why is “and they said” repeated twice in the same speech?

Ibn Ezra (d. 1167) says repetition is to remind us that they are still talking. But other speeches in the Torah do not repeat, “And they said.” It also fails to explain a significant feature of the text – the letter samech in the Hebrew separates the two phrases. Why should there be a break here in the middle of a speech?

Abravanel (d. 1508), who served in the government of Ferdinand and Isabella and was doubtless involved in many negotiations, offers a deep explanation that reflects his experience.

Abravanel notes that the opening of the speech is a sort of veiled request. They are saying – you know, we have a lot of cattle, and this land is perfect cattle land. Then they fall silent. The tribes are hoping that Moses will himself come up with the idea – why, then, you should just stay here! They are trying to escape the responsibility of their own decision.

The samech, says Abravanel, represents Moses’s silence. “And they said” is added again because after the silence they resume speaking and this time make the request explicit.

Moses then reminds the tribes of the struggles of the past. They promise to fight until all of Israel is secure before they return across the Jordan. Under those conditions, they are allowed to keep the land.

Moses demonstrates how to listen and demand responsibility of the questioner. But more important, the exchange emphasizes that we who remain outside the land must work to ensure the safety of those who dwell there.

After Oct. 7, we understand Moses’ silence in a new way. We too passionately promise to aid our sisters and brothers in Eretz Yisrael, as our ancestors did on the plains of Moab.