Numbers 32

Numbers 32:6

SHall ye sit here] By this Moses sheweth himselfe much moved against their motion, as if it savoured of too much love to themselves, and too little to their brethren, and of as little beliefe in God, and obedience to his word; who had given order for division of the land by lot, Chap. 26. vers. 55. & Chap. 33. vers. 54.

Numbers 32:9

that they should not] That might be their intent, who would not have the people attempt to take possession of the land of promise; at least it was the event, which followed upon their false reports of it.

Numbers 32:11

Surely none] Others render the words, (if these men) as more exactly agreeing with the Originall and the best Translations; and they take the words by a figure called Aposiopesis, which pathetically withholds those words (out of an aversion to name them) which make up the sentence; as thus, if these men live to see and possesse the land of Canaan, let not me be held a God, or to have any truth in me; See the like suspensive Oath or Protestation of God, Psal. 94. last, in the margin.

Numbers 32:12

Kenezite] Caleb is mentioned by Moses many times with this addition, the sonne of Jephunneh, either for distinction sake, (for there was another Caleb, 1 Chron. 2. 18. 42.) or for explication of his pedegree, for which cause his originall is fetched higher from Kenaz who might be one of the Ancestors of Jephunneh, whose father (unlesse there were another Jephunneh, but the Scripture commonly brings him in as a father of Caleb) was Jether, 1 Chron. 7. 38. and as he is called the sonne of Jephunneh, so he is named the brother of Othniel, and Othniel the sonne of Kenaz, Joshua 15:17. Judg. 3. 9. which is not to be understood in the strictest acceptation of the word Brother, as if they had both the same father, because in Scripture constantly the one is called the sonne of Kenaz, the other of Jephunneh; and that when in the same place both of them are spoken of together, as in the afore-cited place of Joshua; and Othniel married Calebs daughter; See the same place of Josh. and therefore they were not brethren by the same father, for albeit before the Law it were not prohibited the uncle to marry his neece, yet by Moses Law it was: See Annot. on Leviticus 18:14. so that rather Othniel is called Calebs younger brother, as his nephew, the sonne of Kenaz his brother, for it is not strange in Scripture to call nephewes cousen germans, or kinsmen brethren.

Numbers 32:13

done evill] Chiefly in murmuring, and not beleeving their report, who told the truth concerning the land of Canaan, though they were but two for ten, that spake contrary to it, raising false reports to cast discouragements upon the people.

Numbers 32:17

because of the inhabitants] The Reubenites and Gadites were neere to the Moabites, Idumeans, and Canaanites their enemies.

Numbers 32:20

before the Lord] That is, as setting your selves in his sight, and sincerely doing the service to his glory: or, before the Lord, may be in the fore-front of the Lords Army; as is said, Joshua 4:12. or before the Arke, the place of the Lords especiall presence.

Numbers 32:21

all of you armed] Which is not to be understood universally for all the able warriours of the two Tribes and an halfe; but that all those that went should goe armed, and there went about fourty thousand, Joshua 4:3. which was not halfe of their Militarie number, for the whole was one hundred and ten thousand fighting men, Numb. 26. the rest stayed with the women and children to guard them, and keepe their portion from being surprised, and to repaire some Cities, and build others.

Numbers 32:22

your possession before] That is, the Lord will take notice of it, and will give his approbation to it, as if it had happened to be your part by lot; yet it is probable they were too much set upon that portion of earth, for it is not without some note of their fault and punishment, that as they were the first that had their portion of inheritance assigned them, so they were the first that were carried captives out of their land, 1 Chron. 5. 25, 26.

Numbers 32:23

your sinne will] That is, the punishment of your sinne.

Numbers 32:26

in the cities of Gilead] In them chiefly, not onely, but in other Cities of the Reubenites, Gadites, and halfe Tribe of Manasseh.

Numbers 32:29

ye shall give them] It was at the Lords disposall how the land should be divided; yet that this occasion might make no division nor emulation among the Tribes, he maketh the people parties to the grant of their request; as before, vers. 22.

Numbers 32:30

they shall have] That is, if they will no performe their promise you shall not give them Gilead; but you shall make them goe over Jordan, and to fight for portions for themselves against their and your enemies.

Numbers 32:31

As the Lord hath said] That is attributed to the Lord which his Messenger speaketh; and therefore they were the more like to rest contented with his resolution.

Numbers 32:33

halfe the tribe of Manasseh] The Tribe of Manasseh was divided, the one halfe had his portion with the children of Gad and of Reuben on the one side of Jordan, the other on the other side; and this halfe which was sharer with the two Tribes fore-mentioned, was to undergoe the same conditions with them, Joshua 4:12.

Amorites] The Amorites dwelled on both sides Jordan; but here he maketh mention of them that dwelt on this side (that is, neerer to the wildernesse in which the people wandered) and Joshua 10:12. he speaketh of them that inhabited beyond Jordan.

Numbers 32:34

built] That is, reedified or repaired those places, which were built before, but were now in decay; for they tarried not there long enough to build new Cities, or Towns.

Numbers 32:38

their names being changed] That is, of some of them; partly because some of them imported Idolatrous notions, as Nebo, Isaiah 46:1. and Bamoth, Baal, Baal-meon; haply for that prohibition, Exodus 23:13. and partly for remembrance of some remarkable thing done in them, or happening to them; especially for an honourable remembrance of those who wonne them, o were at cost to repaire them; though the old names were not quite out of use, as Josh. 13. Jer. 48. Ezekiel 25:9. yet they might be changed; as Jacobs name was changed into Israel, yet is the name of Jacob often mentioned afterwards; the like is observed of Kiriath-arba, called afterward Hebron; yet so, that the old name was sometimes renued, Nehemiah 11:25. And as there was a change of names of places, so those names (as the name of Gilead) were taken sometimes for a lger sometimes for a narrower portion of land.

Numbers 32:40

Gilead to Machir] If Machir the eldest sonne of Manasseh were dead by this time, (and so he was, or else he was very old) his sonnes mentioned, vers. 39. might be entitled to his name, as taking Machir for the 〈◊〉 of Machir; as Jacobs posteritie is called by the name of Israel, or Jacob; and Ephraims by the name of Ephraim. See Anot. on Deuteronomy 3:12.

Numbers 32:41

Jair the sonne of Manasseh] He was a Manassite by his mothers side, who was a daughter of the Tribe of Manasseh; for sometimes the denomination was taken from the female sexe, 1 Chron. 2. 21, 22. & Ezra . 6. O the sonne of Manasseh may be one descended from him, in a remote degree, as the Israelites are called the children of Israel, many hundred yeares after Israel or Jacob was dead; and Christ is called the sonne of David, who was his progenitor a great way off, see Matthew 1:1. so that as every Ancestor in a direct line is called a father, so every one of the posteritie in a direct line is called a sonne.