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Numbers Chapter Thirty-two

 

Numbers 32 Outlines

The Tribes Settling East of the Jordan (v.1~42)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 32

This chapter relates how that the tribes of Gad and Reuben requested a settlement in the country of Jazer and Gilead being fit for the pasturage of their cattle Numbers 32:1 at which Moses at first was very much displeased as being unreasonable and tending to discourage the rest of the people; and as acting a part like that their fathers had done before them which brought the wrath of God upon them so that they all but two perished in the wilderness; and this he suggests would be the case again if such measures were taken Numbers 32:6 upon which they explain themselves and declare they had no intention of forsaking their brethren but were willing to leave their children and cattle to the care of divine Providence and go armed before Israel until they were brought into and settled in the land of Canaan; nor did they desire any part or inheritance in it Numbers 32:16 this satisfied Moses and he agreed to it that the land they requested should be their possession provided the conditions were fulfilled by them which they proposed Numbers 20:20 and which they again agreed unto and promised to perform Numbers 32:25 wherefore Moses gave orders to Eleazar Joshua and the chief fathers of the tribes to put them in possession of the land of Gilead on those conditions Numbers 32:28 and which were again promised that they would observe Numbers 32:31 and at the same time Moses made a grant of the kingdoms of Sihon and of Og to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh Numbers 32:33 and the chapter is closed with an account of the cities built or repaired by the children of Gad and Reuben Numbers 32:34 and of the cities in Gilead taken and possessed by the children of Machir and by Jair who were of the tribe of Manasseh Numbers 32:39.

 

Numbers 32:1   Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead that indeed the region was a place for livestock

   YLT  1And much cattle hath been to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad very many; and they see the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead and lo the place [is] a place [for] cattle;

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle .... By which it seems that they had more in proportion than any of the other tribes; by what means it is not easy to say; very probably they were more addicted to the pastoral life and took more delight in breeding cattle and were more diligent in taking care of them: however the reason for this observation presently follows:

and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead; Jazer was in the kingdom of Sihon and Gilead in the kingdom of Og which had been both conquered by the Israelites:

that behold the place was a place for cattle; where much cattle was fed there being a great deal of good pasturage for them: Jazer appears to be a well watered country Jeremiah 48:32 and Gilead and Bashan which joined and belonged to the same country of Og who was king of Bashan were famous for good feeding of cattle: hence we read of the bulls of Bashan and rams of the breed of Bashan and goats on Mount Gilead that looked plump and sleek; see Micah 7:14.

 

Numbers 32:2   2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the congregation saying

   YLT  2and the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben come in and speak unto Moses and unto Eleazar the priest and unto the princes of the company saying:

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses .... The children of Gad are mentioned first though Reuben was the firstborn and had a standard under which Gad pitched: it may be as Aben Ezra thinks the Gadites were the first authors of this counsel the contrivers of this scheme; who first moved it to the Reubenites which they had an opportunity of doing lying encamped by them; or however they might be the most busy and active in this affair or the best spokesmen; for it could be only some in the name of the whole that addressed Moses on this account and spoke to him about it:

and to Eleazar the priest and unto the princes of the congregation; who perhaps were the seventy elders and with Moses the chief ruler and Eleazar the high priest made up the grand sanhedrim or great council of the nation and were undoubtedly the most proper persons to apply unto:

saying: as follows.

 

Numbers 32:3   3 “Ataroth Dibon Jazer Nimrah Heshbon Elealeh Shebam Nebo and Beon

  YLT  3`Ataroth and Dibon and Jazer and Nimrah and Heshbon and Elealeh and Shebam and Nebo and Beon –

Ataroth Dibon and Jazer .... These were places which belonged to the Amorites and were taken from Sihon their king: of Ataroth we read nowhere else but in this chapter; of Dibon see Isaiah 15:2 Jazer was a city from whence the land about it had its name; it is the same with Jaazer Numbers 21:32 and stood about fifteen miles from HeshbonF11Jerom. de loc. Heb. fol. 92. G. the capital city of the kingdom of Sihon:

and Nimrah and Heshbon and Elealeh and Shebam and Nebo and Beon; these were all places in the same country; of Heshbon see Numbers 21:25 Nimrah is the same with Bethnimrah Numbers 32:36 and sometimes called Nimrim famous for its water Isaiah 15:6. Jerom saysF12lbid. K. the name of it in his time was Benamerium and lay to the north of Zoar; Elealeh according to the same writerF13Ibid. fol. 91. A. was but a mile from Heshbon of which see Isaiah 15:4. Shebam is the same with Shibmah Numbers 32:36 and seems to be a place famous for vines Isaiah 16:8; it is thought to be the same with the Seba of PtolemyF14Geograph. l. 5. c. 19. and according to JeromF15Comment. in Esaiam c. 16. 8. there were scarce five hundred paces between this place and Heshbon; Nebo the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call the grave of Moses because on a mountain of this name Moses died and where it is supposed he was buried; but it is certain he was buried not on a mountain but in a valley Deuteronomy 34:6 this perhaps had its name from the mountain near which it was and of which see Isaiah 15:2. Beon is the same that is called Baalmeon Numbers 32:38 and Bethbaalmeon Joshua 13:17 where was very probably a temple of Baal; it was about nine miles from HeshbonF16Eusebius apud Reland: Palest. Illustr. par. 2. l. 3. p. 611. .

 

Numbers 32:4   4 the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel is a land for livestock and your servants have livestock.”

   YLT  4the land which Jehovah hath smitten before the company of Israel is a land for cattle and thy servants have cattle.'

Even the county which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel .... In which the above cities were and perhaps some others not named: this was now in the hands of the people of Israel being subdued by them the conquest of which is ascribed unto the Lord for the victory was of him; it was he that smote their enemies; and delivered their country into their hands; and now Moses Eleazar and the princes of the congregation being the representatives of the people had a right to dispose of it and which these two tribes request might be given to them because say they:

it is a land for cattle and thy servants have cattle; to stock it with and great numbers of them; see Numbers 32:1

 

Numbers 32:5   5 Therefore they said “If we have found favor in your sight let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.”

   YLT  5And they say `If we have found grace in thine eyes let this land be given to thy servants for a possession; cause us not to pass over the Jordan.'

Wherefore said they if we have found grace in thy sight .... Directing their speech to Moses the ruler of the congregation in a very modest decent and respectable manner:

let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; as their own portion and inheritance to be enjoyed by them and their children after them:

and bring us not over Jordan; into the land of Canaan where as they after explain themselves they did not desire to have any part with their brethren but should be content with their possession here should it be granted them.

 

Numbers 32:6   6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?

   YLT  6And Moses saith to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben `Do your brethren go in to the battle and ye -- do ye sit here?

And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben .... Being displeased with their motion as his following discourse shows it having at first sight an appearance of covetousness and cowardice:

shall your brethren go to war and shall ye sit here? it is not reasonable that your brethren should be left by you and engage in a war with your common enemies to dispossess them of their land before they can settle in it and you remain here easy and quiet in the possession of a fruitful country.

 

Numbers 32:7   7 Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them?

   YLT  7and why discourage ye the heart of the sons of Israel from passing over unto the land which Jehovah hath given to them?

Wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel.... Which he suggests it would should they settle on that side Jordan since they would lose the assistance of two of their tribes even two thirds of one of their standards in fighting with their enemies and subduing their land; and besides it might be thought that this request of theirs not only proceeded from selfish views and a love of ease which might set a bad example to others but carried in it a distrust of ever being able to enter into at least to conquer and possess the land of Canaan and so might have a tendency to discourage their brethren:

from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them? despairing of ever enjoying it and so laying aside all thoughts of it and not caring to make any attempt to get possession of it.

 

Numbers 32:8   8 Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.

   YLT  8`Thus did your fathers in my sending them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land;

Thus did your fathers .... Meaning not particularly and only the fathers of these two tribes he was speaking to but of them and the other tribes also who acted much such a part; did not choose to go into the good land to possess it when they were bid to do it but were for sending spies first which brought an ill report of it and discouraged the people from going into it; the history of which Moses here gives:

when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land; called only Kadesh Numbers 13:26 the reason of the name See Gill on Numbers 32:13.

 

Numbers 32:9   9 For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them.

   YLT  9and they go up unto the valley of Eshcol and see the land and discourage the heart of the sons of Israel so as not to go in unto the land which Jehovah hath given to them;

For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol .... That is when they went up the hill for they were bid to go up into the mountain and proceeded on into the country until they came to the valley or brook of Eshcol so called from the cluster of grapes they there cut down and brought along with them Numbers 13:17.

and saw the land; searching it for the space of forty days:

they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel; by telling them that there were giants in the land and that the people in common were strong and their cities walled and that they were not able to go up against them and overcome them; and by this means they disheartened the people:

that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them; and this Moses feared and suggests would be the consequence of the request the two tribes now made.

 

Numbers 32:10   10 So the Lord’s anger was aroused on that day and He swore an oath saying

   YLT  10and the anger of Jehovah burneth in that day and He sweareth saying

And the Lord's anger was kindled the same time .... Against the spies that brought the ill report and against all the people that were disheartened and murmured upon it and which above all things was to be dreaded now:

and he sware saying; as follows.

 

Numbers 32:11   11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt from twenty years old and above shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham Isaac and Jacob because they have not wholly followed Me

   YLT  11They do not see -- the men who are coming up out of Egypt from a son of twenty years and upward -- the ground which I have sworn to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob for they have not been fully after Me;

Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt from twenty years old and upwards .... See Numbers 14:28.

shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob; the land of Canaan which at various times he sware to give to them and to their posterity:

because they have not wholly followed me; the laws which he prescribed them the directions he gave them and particularly the orders they had to go up and possess the land at once Deuteronomy 1:21.

 

Numbers 32:12   12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun for they have wholly followed the Lord.’

   YLT  12save Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenezite and Joshua son of Nun for they have been fully after Jehovah;

Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite and Joshua the son of Nun .... See Numbers 14:30 whether Caleb or Jephunneh is called the Kenezite is not so easy to determine; the latter rather seems to be most correct for that Caleb should be called so from Kenaz the father of Othniel who is said to be Caleb's brother seems not to be agreeable; since it is not likely that they were his own brothers or Caleb would not have given his daughter to him; besides Jephunneh and not Kenaz is always said to be the father of Caleb unless his father can be thought to have two names; it is most likely that Jephunneh and so Caleb might be called the Kenezite from an ancestor of theirs of that name: Jarchi says Caleb was the son-in-law of Kenaz and Caleb's mother bore unto him Othniel:

for they have wholly followed the Lord; here what was said of Caleb Numbers 14:24 is said both of him and Joshua; See Gill on Numbers 14:24.

 

Numbers 32:13   13 So the Lord’s anger was aroused against Israel and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone.

   YLT  13and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Israel and He causeth them to wander in the wilderness forty years until the consumption of all the generation which is doing the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah.

And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel .... For murmuring against the report of the spies:

and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years; for though it was but about thirty eight years from that time that they were in the wilderness the round number of forty is given; and besides it includes the time of their first coming into it which being reckoned makes the complete number within a few months: Kadesh from whence the spies were sent and whither they returned and where the people murmured and had this sentence pronounced on them that they should not see the land of Canaan but wander and fall in the wilderness seems to have had the addition of Barnea made unto it on that account which signifies the son of him that wandereth:

until all the generation which had done evil in the sight of the Lord was consumed; as they all were at this time when Moses spake these words.

 

Numbers 32:14   14 And look! You have risen in your fathers’ place a brood of sinful men to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel.

   YLT  14`And lo ye have risen in the stead of your fathers an increase of men -- sinners to add yet to the fury of the anger of Jehovah toward Israel;

And behold ye are risen up in your fathers' stead .... Succeeded them in their families of which they were now the heads; and in their substance their flocks and herds; and he suggests also in their manners amid evil dispositions:

an increase of sinful men; this new generation was greatly increased for when the number was taken as it was but a little before this time they were pretty near the same number as of those that came out of Egypt; but then they were not only an increase of men but of sinful men like fathers like sons:

to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward Israel; to make it greater and fiercer towards that nation than even their fathers had by their many sins and transgressions.

 

Numbers 32:15   15 For if you turn away from following Him He will once again leave them in the wilderness and you will destroy all these people.”

   YLT  15when ye turn back from after Him then He hath added yet to leave him in the wilderness and ye have done corruptly to all this people.'

For if ye turn away from after him .... From following him in the way of his commandments from attending his word worship and ordinances and from walking after him who went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire as it is suggested they would should they stop short here and not go over Jordan into the land of Canaan:

he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; as he did at the time of the affair of the spies when they were ordered to turn and get into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea and where they had been ever since unto this time Numbers 14:25

and ye shall destroy all this people; be the cause of their destruction if the Lord should in such a manner resent this step of theirs as to order them back into the wilderness again though they were now as they were before on the border of the land of Canaan.

 

Numbers 32:16   16 Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones

   YLT  16And they come nigh unto him and say `Folds for the flock we build for our cattle here and cities for our infants;

And they came near unto him .... The heads of the tribes of Gad and Reuben came a little nearer to Moses having something more to say unto him in order to explain their meaning and in doing which they used some degree of freedom and boldness with him see Genesis 44:18.

and said we will build sheepfolds here for our cattle and cities for our little ones not build new ones but repair the old ones; for there were cities enough in the country as before named and no doubt sheepfolds too as the land was a place of cattle but those were through the war broken down and demolished and needed repairing; and this they proposed to do and leave their children and their cattle to the care of their servants under the protection of the divine Providence and did not mean for the present to take up their abode here.

 

Numbers 32:17   17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

   YLT  17and we -- we are armed hasting before the sons of Israel till that we have brought them in unto their place; and our infants have dwelt in the cities of defence because of the inhabitants of the land;

But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel .... This they said to free themselves from the charge of cowardice and that they did not mean to sit still while their brethren went to war; they were willing to put on their armour and be ready to meet the enemy upon the borders of the land and engage with them and to expose their lives in favour of their brethren:

until we have brought them unto their place; to the land of Canaan the place designed for them and given unto them to the possession of it and a settlement in it:

and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land; where they might be safe from them which they proposed to repair and refortify for the security of them while they went with their brethren into the land of Canaan to put them into possession of that of which they made not the least doubt; and so served to clear them of suspicion of any distrust they had of entering into and possessing the land which might tend to discourage the people.

 

Numbers 32:18   18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance.

   YLT  18we do not turn back unto our houses till the sons of Israel have inherited each his inheritance

We will not return unto our houses .... In the cities built or repaired by them or to their families and their substance their flocks and their herds; all which they should leave behind them and never think of returning to them:

until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance; until all the tribes were settled in their respective places and every family and everyone in them had their portion assigned them; and accordingly they did not return until the land was wholly subdued nor even until every lot came up and the land was divided by it and the inheritance of the several tribes fixed and even the cities of the Levites assigned to them out of the several tribes; see Joshua 22:1.

 

Numbers 32:19   19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.”

   YLT  19for we do not inherit with them beyond the Jordan and yonder for our inheritance hath come unto us beyond the Jordan at the [sun]-rising.'

For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan or forward .... This they said not as being determined whether Moses and the princes were willing or not to stay where they were and not pass over Jordan to inherit any part there and much less as despising the good land but as giving up all pretensions to it should they be settled where they desired; they were not of that selfish and covetous disposition as to desire any part on the other side Jordan if it was but granted them to continue on this side and possess the land they requested:

because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward; they seem to speak as if they were assured of it and that it was so ordered by divine Providence and wanted nothing but the consent of Moses and the princes of the congregation.

 

Numbers 32:20   20 Then Moses said to them: “If you do this thing if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war

   YLT  20And Moses saith unto them `If ye do this thing: if ye are armed before Jehovah for battle

And Moses said unto them .... Being better disposed towards them and more satisfied with the reasonableness of their request it being explained unto him:

if ye will do this thing; which they had promised:

if ye will go armed before the Lord to war; they had said they would go ready armed before the children of Israel but Moses expresses it "before the Lord"; which is more agreeable to their encampment and order in marching for not the standard of Reuben but that of Judah went foremost yet the standard of Reuben marched directly before the sanctuary bore by the Kohathites Numbers 10:18 and so might be properly said to go before the Lord who dwelt there.

 

Numbers 32:21   21 and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies from before Him

   YLT  21and every armed one of you hath passed over the Jordan before Jehovah till his dispossessing His enemies from before Him

And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord .... Moses tries them thoroughly and is very express in his words requiring them not only to go armed or march from the place where they were towards the land of Canaan but to go over Jordan and not some of them only but all and that before the Lord; though indeed when the tribes came to the river Jordan the ark which was the symbol of the divine Presence went before all the tribes into it and there stayed till they passed over and then these two tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh passed before the children of Israel and before the Lord unto battle Joshua 3:11.

until he hath driven out his enemies before him: the Canaanites who were the enemies of the Lord as well as of his people; and because of their sins in which they showed their enmity to God the land spewed them out and he drove them out to make way for his people Israel and till this was done the tribes of Reuben and Gad were to continue with them.

 

Numbers 32:22   22 and the land is subdued before the Lord then afterward you may return and be blameless before the Lord and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord.

   YLT  22and the land hath been subdued before Jehovah -- then afterwards ye do turn back and have been acquitted by Jehovah and by Israel; and this land hath been to you for a possession before Jehovah.

And the land be subdued before the Lord .... For the inhabitants fleeing before his people and being conquered by them might be said to be subdued before the Lord this being done in his presence by his power and for his people:

then afterward ye shall return: to this side of Jordan the land of Jazer and Gilead to their cities and families there:

and be guiltless before the Lord and before Israel: having fulfilled all that they promised:

and this land shall be your possession before the Lord; be established and settled in it as their inheritance the Lord seeing and approving of it and protecting them in the enjoyment of it.

 

Numbers 32:23   23 But if you do not do so then take note you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.

   YLT  23`And if ye do not so lo ye have sinned against Jehovah and know ye your sin that it doth find you;

But if ye will not do so .... As they promised they would and Moses insisted on it that they should:

behold ye have sinned against the Lord making such a request and not fulfilling the conditions on which it was granted:

and be sure your sin will find you out; fly in their faces accuse them in their consciences charge and load them with guilt and bring deserved punishment upon them: sin may be put as it often is for the punishment of sin which sooner or later will find out and come upon the impenitent and unpardoned sinner.

 

Numbers 32:24   24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep and do what has proceeded out of your mouth.”

   YLT  24build for yourselves cities for your infants and folds for your flock and that which is going out from your mouth do ye.'

Build ye cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep .... For their safety and security as they proposed to do:

and do that which proceedeth out of your mouth; all that they had promised.

 

Numbers 32:25   25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses saying: “Your servants will do as my lord commands.

   YLT  25And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben speak unto Moses saying `Thy servants do as my lord is commanding;

And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses saying .... In answer to his speech:

thy servants will do as my lord commandeth; both with respect to their march before the Lord to battle and with respect to their provision for their children and flocks.

 

Numbers 32:26   26 Our little ones our wives our flocks and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead;

   YLT  26our infants our wives our cattle and all our beasts are there in cities of Gilead

Our little ones our wives our flocks and all our cattle .... Their families and their substance:

shall be there in the cities of Gilead; such as are before mentioned Numbers 32:3 and which they proposed to repair and fortify to preserve their families and possessions from the Amorites about them.

 

Numbers 32:27   27 but your servants will cross over every man armed for war before the Lord to battle just as my lord says.”

   YLT  27and thy servants pass over every armed one of the host before Jehovah to battle as my lord is saying.'

But thy servants will pass over .... The river Jordan and go into the land of Canaan:

every man armed for war; Moses had required that all should go over and they consent to it and promise that everyone should though this was not insisted on when they came to it for only about 40 000 went over Joshua 4:13 whereas the two tribes of Gad and Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh numbered more than 110 000; see Numbers 26:7

before the Lord to battle as my lord saith; for now instead of saying "before the children of Israel" a phrase they first used they say "before the Lord" as Moses had expressed it.

 

Numbers 32:28   28 So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest to Joshua the son of Nun and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel.

   YLT  28And Moses commandeth concerning them Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel;

So concerning them Moses commanded .... That they should have a grant of the land they requested: this looks as if Moses determined the case himself though perhaps it was by the vote and with the consent of the whole court; only Moses strictly enjoined them to observe it namely:

Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; and the rather he did this because he knew that he should die and not see either the thing itself or the conditions of it performed.

 

Numbers 32:29   29 And Moses said to them: “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben cross over the Jordan with you every man armed for battle before the Lord and the land is subdued before you then you shall give them the land of Gilead as a possession.

   YLT  29and Moses saith unto them `If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben pass over with you the Jordan every one armed for battle before Jehovah and the land hath been subdued before you then ye have given to them the land of Gilead for a possession;

And Moses said unto them .... To Eleazar Joshua and the princes of the congregation:

if the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan every man armed to battle before the Lord; as they have promised they will:

and the land shall be subdued before you; which must be done before their return:

then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession; which no doubt included that of Jazer too since Jaazer which is the same is after mentioned as one of the cities built by the children of Gad Numbers 32:35.

 

Numbers 32:30   30 But if they do not cross over armed with you they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”

   YLT  30and if they do not pass over armed with you then they have possessions in your midst in the land of Canaan.'

But if they will not pass over with you armed .... Shall change their minds and break their promise and refuse to go over the river Jordan with the other tribes and armed ready to engage in battle with the enemy:

they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan; take their lot there but have no inheritance or possessions on this side Jordan.

 

Numbers 32:31   31 Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered saying: “As the Lord has said to your servants so we will do.

   YLT  31And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answer saying `That which Jehovah hath spoken unto thy servants -- so we do;

And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered .... The word is in the singular number and shows their unanimity that they agreed to what Moses said and replied all of them as one man as Jarchi expresses it; and it may be there was one that was the mouth of them all and answered for them:

saying as the Lord hath said unto thy servants so will we do; here they make use of the word Jehovah taking what Moses had said unto them as from the Lord and therefore should strictly and punctually observe it as if they heard the Lord himself speak it.

 

Numbers 32:32   32 We will cross over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan but the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us on this side of the Jordan.”

   YLT  32we -- we pass over armed before Jehovah [to] the land of Canaan and with us [is] the possession of our inheritance beyond the Jordan.'

We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan .... This is repeated again and again for the confirmation of it assuring that it should be strictly performed according to the true intent of it:

that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours; that is that the possession and inheritance they desired and which had been granted them on conditions to be performed by them might be ratified and confirmed unto them on their fulfilment of them.

 

Numbers 32:33   33 So Moses gave to the children of Gad to the children of Reuben and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan the land with its cities within the borders the cities of the surrounding country.

   YLT  33And Moses giveth to them to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half of the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorite and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan the land by its cities in the borders the cities of the land round about.

And Moses gave unto them .... By word of mouth in the presence of the court or rather by some instrument drawn up and signed by him and the sanhedrim or witnessed by them:

even to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph; no mention is made of this half tribe joining with the other two tribes in the request to settle on this side Jordan and therefore it is generally thought that they were encouraged by the success of the two tribes to make a like motion; or else Moses and the princes observing that there was too much land for the said tribes joined this half tribe with them the land being suitable for them:

the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan the land with the cities thereof in the coasts even the cities of the country round about; of which kingdoms and the conquest of them see Numbers 21:24 and several of the cities in them are after mentioned.

 

Numbers 32:34   34 And the children of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer

   YLT  34And the sons of Gad build Dihon and Ataroth and Aroer

And the children of Gad built .... Or rather repaired the walls and fortifications and rebuilt houses which had been demolished in the wars with Sihon and Og; when the following places were taken by the Israelites:

Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer; the two first are mentioned in Numbers 32:3. Aroer was a city situated on the river Arnon and was after this in the hands of the Moabites: Jerom saysF17De loc. Heb. fol. 87. I. it was showed in his day on the top of the mountain upon the bank of the river Arnon which flows into the Dead sea Jeremiah 48:19.

 

Numbers 32:35   35 Atroth and Shophan and Jazer and Jogbehah

   YLT  35and Atroth Shophan and Jaazer and Jogbehah

And Atroth Shophan and Jaazer and Jogbehah. Of these no mention is made elsewhere except Jaazer which is the same with Jazer Numbers 32:3.

 

Numbers 32:36   36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran fortified cities and folds for sheep.

   YLT  36and Beth-Nimrah and Beth-Haran cities of defence and sheepfolds.

And Bethnimrah and Bethharan fenced cities .... The first of these is the same with Nimrah Numbers 32:3 and the other is the same with Betharam Joshua 13:27 it is called in the Jerusalem TalmudF18Sheviith fol. 38. 4. Bethramtha and so by the Syrians Bethramphta; and to the same place Herod gave the name of Livias or JuliasF19Vid. Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. par. 2. p. 643. : these cities the children of Gad built or repaired for their families:

and folds for sheep; they also built for their cattle as they promised to do and Moses enjoined them Numbers 32:16.

 

Numbers 32:37   37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim

   YLT  37And the sons of Reuben have build Heshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim

And the children of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim. Heshbon was the royal city of Sihon king of the Amorites and Elealeh was within a mile of it see Numbers 32:3 this shows that those cities were not built anew properly only repaired for they were cities in being long before; besides they had not time to build new cities for in a few months after this they passed over Jordan; though indeed they left men enough behind to rebuild cities whom they might set to work about them when they departed: Kirjathaim is by the Targum of Jonathan called the city of two streets paved with marble and it adds this is Beresha: JeromF20De loc. Heb. fol. 89. M. says it is now called Coraiatha which is pretty near its ancient name and that it is ten miles from Medeba a city of Arabia mentioned as one of the cities in the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites Numbers 21:30.

 

Numbers 32:38   38 Nebo and Baal Meon (their names being changed) and Shibmah; and they gave other names to the cities which they built.

   YLT  38and Nebo and Baal-Meon (changed in name) and Shibmah and they call by [these] names the names of the cities which they have built.

And Nebo and Baalmeon (their names being changed ).... For Nebo was the name of an idol after which perhaps the city was called: Baalmeon signifies "Baal's habitation" and where it is highly probable was a temple of his; and the children of Reuben not liking to retain such idolatrous names gave them others but what they were it is not said; and certain it is that when these places came into the hands of the Moabites their ancient names were restored to them as appears from Isaiah 15:2.

and Shibmah; the same with Shebam Numbers 32:3 and gave other names unto the cities which they built; but they are neither known nor did they always continue as has been observed.

 

Numbers 32:39   39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it.

   YLT  39And sons of Machir son of Manasseh go to Gilead and capture it and dispossess the Amorite who [is] in it;

And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it .... That part of it which Moses gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh which till now was in the hand of the Amorites; for half Mount Gilead and the cities thereof were given to the Reubenites and Gadites which is the land of Gilead they desired and which was already conquered; for they call it the country which the Lord smote before Israel Numbers 32:1

and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it; for though they were driven out of one part of Gilead yet not out of the whole.

 

Numbers 32:40   40 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh and he dwelt in it.

   YLT  40and Moses giveth Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh and he dwelleth in it.

And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh .... That is to the children of Machir who went and took it; though some say as Aben Ezra observes that Machir himself was now alive and that it was given to him but that is not probable; for supposing him to be living when the children of Israel came out of Egypt all that came from thence who were twenty years old and upwards died in the wilderness excepting two see Numbers 32:11

and he dwelt therein; that is the family of the Macharite; see Numbers 26:29.

 

Numbers 32:41   41 Also Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its small towns and called them Havoth Jair.[a]

   YLT  41And Jair son of Manasseh hath gone and captureth their towns and calleth them `Towns of Jair;'

And Jair the son of Manasseh .... By his mother's side otherwise he was of the family of Judah; for Hezron of the family of Judah married a daughter of Machir the son of Manasseh by whom he had a son called Segub who was the father of Jair 1 Chronicles 2:21 the same

went and took the small towns thereof; of that part of Gilead given to Machir:

and called them Havothjair; after his own name: in Deuteronomy 3:14 they are called Bashanhavothjair.

 

Numbers 32:42   42 Then Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages and he called it Nobah after his own name.

   YLT  42and Nobah hath gone and captureth Kenath and its villages and calleth it Nobah by his own name.

And Nobah went and took Kenath and the villages thereof .... Who this Nobah was is not certain very probably a descendant of Manasseh; it is saidF21Seder Olam Rabba c. 9. p. 27. he was among those that were born in Egypt and died after the death of Moses and was buried beyond Jordan as it is said also did Machir and Jair so that there were none left but Caleb and Joshua:

and called it Nobah after his name; but it seems that in later times its ancient name was restored to it; for JeromF23Ut supra. (De loc. Heb. fol. 89. M.) says there was a village in Arabia called Cannatha which is supposed to be this place; though he also tells usF24De loc. Heb. fol. 93. H. that eight miles from Heshbon; to the south is shown a desert place called Naba. PlinyF25Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 18. places Cannatha in the Decapolis.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. Numbers 32:41 Literally Towns of Jair