Kommentar zu Dewarim 3:12

ואת הארץ הזאת AND THIS LAND mentioned above (v. 8), "from the brook of Arnon to Mount Hermon", ירשנו בעת ההוא WE POSSESSED AT THAT TIME.

ואת הארץ הזאת ירשנו בעת ההיא, “and we inherited this land at that time.” Rashi says that the words ואת הארץ הזאת refer to the land mentioned just previously. The words מערורר אשר על נחל ארנון, are not connected to what has been described previously, but introduce a new section, seeing that the people of Israel inherited more territory, lands inherited by the tribes of Reuven and Gad mentioned at the end of the verse. This is clear from the fact that Mount Hermon is situated far to the north of the river Arnon. Nachmanides writes that in his view the words הארץ הזאת אשר ירשנו בעת ההיא וגגו' were all regions given to the tribe of Reuven.

“Mentioned above, etc. I.e., it is not referring to the land mentioned afterwards, “From Aro’er which is on Wadi Arnon.” For the land they inherited at that time extended from Wadi Arnon to Mount Chermon, and not only from Aro’er until half of Mount Gilod. Rather, the verse means: “The land mentioned above that we took from the two kings, which extended from Wadi Arnon until Mount Chermon, we inherited it and fortified it.” Afterwards starts a new account: “From Aro’er which is on Wadi Arnon ... I gave to the Reuvenites and the Gaddites, and I gave the rest to half the tribe of Menashe, etc.”

AND THIS LAND — “this land mentioned above, from the brook of Arnon unto Mount Hermon²⁷⁴Above, Verse 8. — WE TOOK IN POSSESSION AT THAT TIME. FROM AROER, WHICH IS BY THE BROOK ARNON — this is not connected with the beginning of the verse [defining this land] but with the end thereof: I gave unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites. But as regards the possession, it was unto Mount Hermon.”²⁷⁴Above, Verse 8. This is Rashi’s language. The correct interpretation appears to me to be that the verse is stating: “and this land ‘which’ we took in possession at that time [I allocated in the following way]: from Aroer [etc.] I gave unto the Reubenites.” So also is the verse, and thou shalt let them know the way they shall walk therein²⁷⁵Exodus 18:20. [means “the way ‘which’ they shall walk therein”]. There are many similar cases.

V. 12. ירשנו ,ואת הארץ הזאת haben wir bereits völlig in Besitz genommen und die Besitznahme durch Verteilung vollendet.

ואת הארץ הזאת ירשנו, “and this land we have inherited;” this phrase is abbreviated; the line should have begun with the words: ‘”and this land which we have inherited at that time ...as well as its towns, I have given to the tribe of Reuven.” All of this has been explained in Numbers 32,33.

מערער אשר על נחל ארנן FROM AROER, WHICH IS BY THE BROOK ARNON — this must not be connected with the first part of this verse (defining הארץ הזאת) but with its conclusion — with נתתי לראבני ולגדי I GAVE TO THE REUBENITES AND TO THE GADITES; however, as respects possession (taking by conquest) that was "[from the brook of Arnon] to Mount Hermon" (v. 8).

This is not to be connected ... but with its conclusion, etc. Rashi is answering the question: The verse implies that they only inherited this land, and they gave it to the Reuvenites and the Gaddites. And afterwards it is written, “And the rest of the Gilod ... I gave to half the tribe of Menashe.” But from where did they get this land, since they had not inherited any more land? For this reason Rashi explains: “This land” refers to the land mentioned above, “From Wadi Arnon to Mount Chermon,”, etc. In other words: The land mentioned above is what we inherited at that time, and from that land I gave to the Reuvenites, the Gaddites, and half the tribe of Menashe.