Will be eliminated Removed.¹

footnotes: ¹ פקד is sometimes translated as “remembered” (Bereishis, 50:25). Here, however, the translation is “removed,” or “eliminated.”

Were regretful They reversed themselves,² and contemplated escape for them.

footnotes: ² וַיִנָּחֲמוּ is translated as “they regretted,” rather than “they were comforted.”

Four hundred virgin maids They placed them over the openings of wine barrels. Those with carnal knowledge emitted an aroma, the virgins did not.³

footnotes: ³ Yevamos, 60:b.

This did not satisfy They were insufficient for them.

The survivors must inherit the ancestral property The tribe's ancestral property remains unclaimed; let us devise a plan whereby they may father children, so that the property will fall into the possession of the remaining survivors, and a tribe will not be obliterated from Yisroel.

East [lit. "sunrise"] of the road. To the east of the road. Shiloh was north of Beis El, south of Levonah, and east of the road ascending from Beis El to Shechem.

To fight us To go to war against us.

We shall tell them we were merciful with them. We were merciful with them because they did not know what to do, as we could not provide each of these men with a wife at the time of the war with Yoveish Gilod, except for four hundred of them. And if it is your oath that disturbs you, there is nothing sinful here on your part, since you were not the ones who provided them with your daughters, so that you would now be blameworthy. Peaceful salutations, have no fear!