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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)