In order to ensure that the tribes of Reuben and Gad would retain the proper perspective when they settled on the east bank of the Jordan River, Moses settled half of the tribe of Manasseh there, as well. The tribe of Manasseh was known for its love of the Land of Israel – i.e., its dedication to refining the material world, which was to be accomplished first and foremost in the Land of Israel. Furthermore, by settling half of this tribe on the west side of the Jordan and half of it on the east side, Moses demonstrated that the tribe was not settling on the east bank of the Jordan in order to shirk its responsibility toward its mission on the west bank. Finally, Joseph had named his son Manasseh – the original founder of this tribe – after Joseph’s desire not to forget that living outside the land of Israel is not the Jew’s natural habitat.
From all of this, we learn that the way to bring the world to its ideal state – the Messianic future – is by fully embracing the challenge of elevating and refining the world, for this is the ultimate goal of the Messianic Redemption.1
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