Numbers 32
DOYLYNumbers 32:20
- — if ye will go armed before the Lord to war,] That is, before the ark, the symbol of the Lord’s presence. These two tribes always lay encamped before the sanctuary, chap. ii. When the camp removed, they marched before it, chap. x. so that Moses here requires them, only to hold their usual place, which it is expressly said that they did, Josh. iv. 12, 13. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 32:23
- — your sin will find you out.] You shall be punished for your disobedience. Bp. Kidder. Moses consents to the request of the Reubenites and Gadites on certain conditions; but is very earnest that the conditions, which he prescribed, should be punctually observed. Accordingly he represents sin, by which he means the consequence of sin, under the strong image of a person, who should certainly find out every transgressor among them, that did not punctually perform the condition, to which he had agreed. Gilpin.
“If men sin against the Lord, their sin will surely find them out:” that the world may be convinced, that God governs it in truth and justice, and that He sees all things that are done under the sun; that good men may
be reclaimed by His fatherly corrections; that wicked men may be left without excuse; and that all may be awakened to a due care of their ways, that so they may avoid what will otherwise certainly come upon them. Bp. Wilson.
Numbers 32:27
- But thy servants will pass over,] Not strictly, all the men of war among them; but as many as could be spared, and as were thought sufficient. There went in fact 40,000 out of, probably, 100,000. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 32:33
- — half the tribe of Manasseh] The history does not mention how this half tribe chose to stay. Probably, when they saw the success of the other two tribes, they might represent to Moses their great stock of cattle; and that the country would be equally commodious to them, as well as too large for only two tribes to occupy. Without doubt Moses was inclined to listen to them, because the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had by their valour subdued a great part of the country where they settled. Stackhouse.
Numbers 32:34
- — built] Repaired and fortified. The journeys of the Israelites. Before CHRIST 1452. haran, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.
Numbers 32:38
38.—(their names being changed.)] Nebo, as well as Baal, was the name of a god, Is. xlvi. 1, probably an Assyrian deity. It is not unlikely that the Israelites changed the names of these cities, that they might abolish all remains of idolatry in the country. Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 32:40
40.—Moses gave Gilead unto Machir] He gave half of mount Gilead to the descendants of Machir, Deut. iii. 12, 13.
Numbers 32:41
41.—Havoth-jair.] That is, the habitations of Jair.
Chap. XXXIII. ver. 1. These are the journeys &c.] The travels of the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan are a matter of such important consideration, so abounding with the instances of miraculous power, of Divine wisdom, and the wonders of Providence, in behalf of His Church and people, that for the more perfect preservation of the memory of so great a work of God, Moses was, by His express command, obliged to recapitulate the several principal stages of this long journey, and set them all in one view for the benefit of posterity. Pyle. As the best comment on this chapter, the reader is referred to the Map of the Journeyings of the Israelites; together with the subjoined Table of Stations, from Dr. Hales.
TABLE OF STATIONS, &c.