Numbers 32:16-30

16 Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children.
17 But we will arm ourselves for battle[a] and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land.
18 We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.
19 We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”
20 Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle
21 and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him—
22 then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD.
23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
24 Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”
25 The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands.
26 Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead.
27 But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the LORD, just as our lord says.”
28 Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.
29 He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the LORD, then when the land is subdued before you, you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.
30 But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”

Numbers 32:16-30 Meaning and Commentary

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, Nu 32:1-5 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, Nu 32:6-15 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, Nu 32:16-19, 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, Nu 20:20-24, and which they again agreed unto, and promised to perform, Nu 32:25-27, 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, Nu 32:28-30 and which were again promised that they would observe, Nu 32:31,32, 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, Nu 32:33 and the chapter is closed with an account of the cities built or repaired by the children of Gad and Reuben, Nu 32:34-38 and of the cities in Gilead taken and possessed by the children of Machir, and by Jair, who were of the tribe of Manasseh, Nu 32:39-42.

Cross References 25

  • 1. ver 24,36; 1 Samuel 24:3; Psalms 50:9; Psalms 78:70
  • 2. Exodus 12:38; Deuteronomy 3:19
  • 3. Deuteronomy 3:18; Joshua 4:12,13
  • 4. S Numbers 22:4; Deuteronomy 3:20
  • 5. Joshua 22:1-4
  • 6. ver 22,29
  • 7. Numbers 21:33; Joshua 12:1; Joshua 22:7
  • 8. ver 17; Deuteronomy 3:18
  • 9. ver 17
  • 10. Joshua 22:4
  • 11. S Leviticus 14:34
  • 12. Deuteronomy 3:18-20
  • 13. S Genesis 4:7; S Isaiah 3:9; Isaiah 44:16; Isaiah 59:12
  • 14. S ver 1,16
  • 15. Numbers 30:2
  • 16. ver 29; Joshua 1:16,18; Joshua 22:2
  • 17. ver 16,24; Joshua 1:14; Joshua 12:2; Joshua 22:9; 2 Samuel 2:9; 1 Chronicles 5:9
  • 18. ver 17,21
  • 19. ver 29; Deuteronomy 3:18-20; Joshua 1:13
  • 20. Numbers 11:28
  • 21. Numbers 1:16
  • 22. S Numbers 22:4
  • 23. S ver 19
  • 24. ver 23
  • 25. ver 29,32

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew "will be quick to arm ourselves"
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