The thesis is just about finished now. Here's what I've discovered.
When we look at the relevant passages regarding the status of the land east of the Jordan in Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua, we see some flexibility in the terminology employed.
Israel can refer to either the nation or the territory. In Joshua 22, both of these senses carry some ambiguity. In regards to Israel the nation, the eastern tribes seem to be excluded in verse 13, but verse 18 presupposes their inclusion. In regards to Israel the land, the western tribes call the Transjordan "unclean" in verse 19, but it is called "the land of your possession" in in verse 4. Canaan, however, is generally restricted to the land west of the Jordan.
The promised land also has flexible boundaries. The original promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:18 describes a much greater area than was initially settled, and Deuteronomy 19:8 mentions the possibility of expansion. This flexibility of definition becomes very important in New Testament, where the concept of the promised land expands to include the whole earth.
Finally, even if the Transjordan is not (origianlly) part of the promised land, it can be considered to be holy land, on account of the fact that it was conquered as part of a holy war, and that God's people settled there. Israel were supposed to be a unified, holy people, and the settlement in the Transjordan was a potential, but not necessary, obstacle to this.
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