Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 104

104

For that Moshe said to the sons of Gad: “Offspring of sinful men”

[In the language of the friends] It is brought in the Midrash (cited in Sefer Chassidim, sign 137, and in Reishit Chochmah, Sha’ar Ha’anavah, chapter 8) that because Moshe said to the sons of Gad: "Offspring of sinful men", he was punished—that his grandson would serve the idol of Michah.

And the matter is difficult: what is the connection between calling them “offspring of sinful men” and the punishment that his grandson would serve idolatry?

It is stated in Ketubot 110b: “Anyone who lives outside the Land [of Israel], it is as if he has no G-d.”

And our Sages of blessed memory said (Shabbat 97a): “One who suspects the innocent is stricken in his body.”

And Moshe suspected them—that the sons of Reuven and the sons of Gad did not desire a portion in the Land of Israel. It is thereby found [according to the teaching in Ketubot] that they had no G-d.

Therefore, he was punished—through his grandson, who had no G-d [i.e., served idolatry]—because they were innocent in the matter. For they in fact did desire to take a portion in the Land, as is brought [in the sources].