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Why do eastern territories have full kedushat ha'aretz despite the Jordan River being called the border to cross into Eretz Yisrael? Two separate covenants created different dimensions: Brit Bein HaBesarim established territorial rights east and west of the Jordan, while Brit Milah created a unique spiritual presence of the Shechinah only west of the Jordan.
This shiur examines the complex nature of Eretz Yisrael's borders and spiritual dimensions through analysis of two distinct covenants with Avrohom. Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing a fundamental question: if the Jordan River is consistently mentioned as the border to cross when entering Eretz Yisrael, why is it actually inland water, with the eastern territories (settled by Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe) having full kedushat ha'aretz with all laws of terumot and ma'asrot applying? The answer lies in understanding two separate covenants. The first covenant, Brit Bein HaBesarim (when Avrohom was 70), promised ten lands including territories east and west of the Jordan. This territorial covenant stems from our descent from Shem, making us a legitimate nation deserving of a homeland like all other nations. Remarkably, Rashi (רש"י) reveals that this covenant included Esav's descendants, as evidenced by the Jewish argument to Esav requesting passage: 'We paid your debt by being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years.'
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