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Numbers Chapter
Thirty-two
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)