Numbers 32

The Tribes of Reuben and Gad, desire, for reasons them thereunto moving, that Moseh would assign them their inheritance on this side Jordan, verse 1.etc. Moseh firstly sharply reproved them, 6. but they promising to march in arms before their brethren into Canaan, until it be subdued, they, together with the half Tribes of Manasseh, obtain their desire on the foresaid condition, 16.

1. The children of Reuben now had much cattle, and the children of Gad had very many: [Heb. very mighty. The Israelites indeed were generally much given to keeping of cattle, as may be seen, Gen.46.32, 34. and chap.47.3, 4,&c. but it seems that these two Tribes, were addicted to the same more then the rest, for that (as some conceive) they had perhaps formerly in Egypt, inhabited the most convenient part of the Country for pasturage; and therefore may, afterwards in the subduing of the kingdoms of Silhon and Og, and upon the great defeat of the Midianites, have made it their business, to take and get, and truck for, of others, as a quantity of cartel, as they could] And they viewed the Country of Jaezar, and the land of Gilead, and behold, this place was a place of cartel. [Heb. of cattle i.e. they observed and found, that all this Country was very sit and commodious for keeping of cattle.]

2. Then the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben came, and spake to Moseh and to Eleazar the Priest, and to the chief of the Congregation, saying:

3. Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jaezer, and Nimra, and Hesbon, and Eleale: and Schebam, and Neba, and Behon;

4. This land which [i.e. whose inhabitants] the LORD hath smitten before the face of the Congregation in Israel; the same is a land for cattle: and your servants have cattle.

5. Moreover, they said: If we found grace in your eyes, let this land be given for a possession to your servants: and make us not marched over the Jordan.

6. But Moseh said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben; shall your brethren go to war, and shall you remain here? [Moseh doth not simply refuse, to assign them this land for an inheritance, being the same was likewise given the Israelites by God for to inherit, Deut.2.12, 31. but be rebuketh them sharply here, for that they sought to separate themselves from their brethren and take their ease, whilst they must go to war: which became them very ill to do, and might cause great scandal and dismayedness among their brethren; besides that thereby they did (as much as in them lay) retard the performance of Gods promises; as is declared in the perfect sequel.]

7. Wherefore I pray, should ye break the heart of the children of Israel, [Discouraging and disheartening your brethren by your example. Compare Deut.1. 28. Acts 21:13. and below,v.9.] that they o not over to the land which the LORD gave them?

8. Thus your fathers did, when I sent them from Kades-Barnea, for to view this land:

9. When they were come up unto the valley of Escol; [Others, brook, &c. see above, chap.13.24. Deut.1.24.] and viewed this land, they brake the heart of the children of Israel, that they went not to that land which the LORD had given them.

10. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled on that day, and he swore saying;

11. If these men that went forth out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward [Hebr. from a son of twenty years, etc.] shall see the Land, which I have sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! [this is an imperfect speech, usual in making of an oath. See above, Chapter 14. verse 23, 28, 35. Deut.1.35. and compare Gen.14.on verse 23.] for they have not persevered to follow me: [Heb. they have not fulfilled (to go) after me. in the like phrase it is said of Joshua and Caleb, contrariwise in the next verse, that they had fulfilled, &c. See Deut.1.36. and above, c.14.24.]

12. Except Caleb the son of Japhunne, the Kenizite, and Joshua the son of Nun: [Compare Jos.15.17. Jud.1.13. and 3.9, 11. 1 Chron.4.13, 15.] for they did persevere to follow the LORD; [see on the foregoing verse.]

13. Thus the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he made them to wander about in the Wilderness fourty year: [Bringing the two years within the account (for to complete the number,) from the going forth out of Egypt, to the sending of the spies from Kades-Barnea] until the whole Generation was consumed, which had done what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. [i.e. which was displeasing to him.]

14. And behold, ye are risen up instead of your fathers, a multitude of sinnefull men; for to multiply the heat of the LORDS anger against Israel. [Heb. for to add yet, (or further to &c. or, above, beyond the heat, &c]

15. When ye shall turn your selves away from behind him, [viz. from the LORD: The meaning is, if ye shall not be willing to follow the LORD any longer] then he shall continue further to leave him, [viz. Israel] in the Wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people. [the sense is; God shall in this case, cause them to wander in the Wilderness again, as their fathers did, until they perish all like them.]

16. Then they stept unto him [id est, the Reubenites, and Gadites, came afterwards again to Moseh] and said; We will build sheep-folds, [the Hebrew word doth signify such folds or enclosed places for cattle, as are secure and guarded with hedges, pales or wills; and so also below, v.24.] here for our cattle, and Cities for our little ones.

17. But we our selves will prepare our selves, [Or, speedily, or cheerfully gird, or arm our selves for to goe before, etc.] hastening before the face of the children of Israel, until we shall have brought them to their place: [id est, courageously marching along before our brethren, in such a number, as shall be held requisite for to bring them into their possession by force of Armes. See Joshua 4:12, 13.] and our little ones shall remain in the fenced Cities, by reason of the inhabitants of the Land. [id est, that in the mean time they may not be annoyed or endangered by the residue of the people in these parts.]

18. We will not return to our houses, until the children of Israel shall have constituted themselves hereditary possessours, sessours, every one of his inheritance. [See Jos.22. from the beginning to v.10.]

19. For wee will not inherit with them beyond Jordan, and further away: [To wit, the further borders of Canaan] when our inheritance shall be surrendered of the Sun; i.e. Eastward, toward the East of Canaan, where Gilead lay.]

20. Then said Moseh to them; if ye will do this thing, if ye will prepare [Or arm, put on, or gird arms about etc. as above, verse 17. and in sequel] your selves for the battle before the face of the LORD;

21. And every one of you, that is prepared, shall passe over the Jordan, before the face of the LORD; [i.e. before the LORD, of whose presence the ark of the Covenant was a visible token, see Jos.4.13.] until he shall have driven out his enemies, before his face out of possession;

22. And the land be subdued before the face of the LORD, and before Israel: and this land shall be a possession unto you before the face of the LORD.

23. If on the contrary ye shall not doe so, behold then ye have sinned against the LORD: but yee shall be made aware of your sin, when it shall find you, [i.e. when ye shall be punished for the same. Oth. Know that your sin shall find you, i.e. the punishment of your sin will surely hit you.]

24. Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep: and do that which is gone forth out of your mouth. [i.e. that which ye have promised to perform: comp. above chap.30.3. &c. Deut.23.25. Matt.15.18.]

25. Then the children of Gad nd the children of Reuben spake [Heb. said, in the singular i.e. they said all unanimously, with one accord, or, one of them, in the name of all] to Moseh, saying: thy servants shall doe, according as my LORD commandeth.

26. Our little ones, our wives, our substance. and all our beasts shall be there in the cities of Gilead.

27. But thy servants shall passé over all that are [Or, every one that is] prepare for the host, before the face of the LORD, unto the battle, according as my LORD hath spoken.

28. Then Moseh charge in their behalf the Priest Eleazar, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the Tribes of the children, of Israel:

29. And Moseh said to them: if the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben, shall passé over the Jordan with you, and every one that is prepare for war, before the face of the LORD, when the Land shall be subdued, then shall ye give them the land of Gilead, for a possession.

30. But if they passe not over with you prepared, [Or armed, girded, as ab.] then they shall be constituted possessors in the midst of you in the land of Canaan. [i.e. they shall be sain to abandon Gilead, and have their share, and inheritance, like the rest, in Canaan it self.]

31. And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying: That which the LORD hath spoken to thy servants, we shall likewise doe.

32. We shall passé over prepare before the place of the LORD, to the land of Canaan: and the possession of our inheritance, We shall have on this side Jordan.

33. Thus Moseh gave to them, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, Josephs son, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Basan: the country with the cities therefore in the borders, the cities of the land round about.

34. And the children of Gad built [i.e. rebuilt, reared up again: and so in the sequel. All these following places were situated on the east, side of Jordan between the rivers Arnon and Jordan] Dibon and Ataroth, and Aroer:

35. And Airoth-Sophan, and Jaezar, and Jogbeha:

36. And Beth-Nimral, and Beth-Haran: fenced cities, and sheep-folds.

37. And the children of Reuben built Hesbon and Eleale and Kirjathaim.

38. And Nebo [Of this cities see Deut.34.1. Jos.15.2. Jer.48.1. otherwise it was also the name of an hill] and Baal-Meon, having its name changed [the former name having been idolatrous (as followeth) for both Nebo and Baal were names of Idols, and doubtless there were more such] and Libna: and they called the names of the cities which they built by, (other) names.

39. And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, went to Gilead [Or were gone &c. and had taken the same and so in the next verse] and took the same: [understand a part of it, see Deut.3.12.13. and there on verse.15. item Gen.31.21. This part of Gilead and the places of Jair extended Northwardes from the brook of Jabbok towards Syria] and they drave out [Hebr, He drave out &c. he viz Machir i.e. his posterity] the Amorites (Heb. the Amorite) which were therein out of possession.

40. So Moseh gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he dwelt therein.

41. Now fair the son of Manasseh, [This Jair is Likewise reckoned under Manasseh, by reason that his grandfather was married to Machirs daughter, see 1Chro.2.21.22.] went and took their [viz the Gileadites] villages; and he called them Havvot-fair [i.e. Jair his villages, country-towns, or gardens; See Deut.3. verse 14.]

42. And Nobah went, and took in Kenath, with her dependant places, [i.e. such petty towns, cities and places, as resort under the Jurisdiction of Kenath, as their Metropolis, or mother-city, Heb.daughters. See above chap.21, on verse 25. and comp.1.Chro.2.23.] and called it Nobah after his Name.