Numbers 32

Numbers 32:1-15

In this chapter we have, (1.) The humble request of the tribes of Reuben and God, for an inheritance on that side Jordan, where Israel now lay revamped, vers. 1—5. (2.) Moses’s mis-interpreting of their request, vers. 6—15. (3.) Their replication of us, vers. 16—19. (4.) The grant of their petition under the provisions and limitations, which they thus follow proposed, vers. 20—44.

NOW the children of Reuben and the children of God had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that behold, the place was a place for cattle; 2. The children of Gad, and the children of Reuben, came and spoke unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, 3. A. Jareuth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and 4. Nimrah, and Hefshon, and Eleaah, and Shebam, and Nebo, and 5. Be-on; 4. Even the country which the LORD f物理 before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle. 5. Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. 6. And Moses said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? 7. And wherefore did courage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? 8. Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeh-barnea to see the land. 9. For when they went up unto the valley of Isfoc, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. 10. And the LORD’s anger was kindled the same time, and he swore, saying, 11. Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me: 12. Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. 13. And the LORD’s anger was kindled 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 consumed. 14. And behold, ye are risen up in your father’s stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel. 15. For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness, and ye shall destroy all this people.

Pleased with the fertility of the soil, and the country of Gilead and Jazer, the children of Reuben and Gad cast a longing eye upon it for their possession. Whereupon,

1. They make their request to Moses, plead its faithlessness to the numerous herds they kept, and beg they may be permitted to have their lot on this side Jordan. Note, Too many, like them, take up their rest on earth, and over-various their worldly things, lose all concern about a possession in the heavenly Canaan.

2. Moses highly resents their proposal, justly apprehensive of the consequences; it seemed to speak unbelief of God’s promises, and a distrust of his power, to be the dictate of covetousness and cowardice; and in the issue might be fatally dangerous to the whole, whether by weakening the army, and discouraging the hearts of their brethren, or, as was more to

be feared, and Moses reminds them, by provoking God, as their fathers had done, and thereby augmenting his fierce anger against Israel. Note, (1.) It is a dangerous symptom of ruin coming upon a land, when the rising generation trend in the sins of their fathers, and grow worse and worse. (2.) It is as safe as delish to defor our own rest and ease, when God’s people are called to hardships, and need our help and assistance. (3.) Past experiences should be treasured up, as future memorials. (4.) Holy indignation against sin is a part of the character of the faithful ministers of God.

16. And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheep-folds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones. 17. But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place; and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the inhabitants of the land. 18. We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance: 19. For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward, because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward. 20. And Moses said unto them, if ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, 21. And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him: 22. And the land he subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. 23. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. 24. Build ye cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep, and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth. 25. And the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben spoke unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. 26. Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle shall be there in the cities of Gilead. 27. But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.

Numbers 32:16-27

Though Moses had just suspicion for his fears, yet their reply seems to show they were groundless. A faithful minister watches with godly jealousy over the people, and his care and love of them appear even in suspicions that may arise from mistake, or misinterpretation.

1. They engage to follow their brethren, and never to forsake them till they are comfortably settled, yea offer to go before them, to bearing the brunt of every battle, to far from being cowards, or discouraging them. Only they would secure their wives and children, and cattle, till their return; and content with their present lot, defire no part beyond Jordan. Note, It is good to bear always before we judge. They may be actuated by the noblett motives, which conduct may be liable to much misrepresentation.

2. The proposal is conferred to, on these conditions; They shall go armed before the Lord, to fight his battles, and never think of quitting the camp, till the land is subdued; otherwise sin would overtake them, and punish them accordingly. Note, Sin will find us out, if we are false and faithless, and we shall surely suffer for it. Thus the matter is compromised, their engage for ready obedience, and punctual performance of the agreement. The most serviceable, about 40,000 men, accordingly followed Israel into Canaan, till the land was divided; whilst the rest, by consent no doubt, were left as a guard to the country they occupied.

3. So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: 29. And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you, then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: 30. But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan. 31. And the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. 32. We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours. 33. And Moses gave unto them, and

c.c.

even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manaffeh the son of Jofeph, the kingdom of Sibon, king of the Amosies, and the kingdom of Og king of Bafhan, the land with the cities thereof, in the coaths, even the cities of the country round about. 34. ¶ And the children of Gad built ’ Dibon, and ’ Aroroth, and ’ Aroer, 35. And Arroth, Shophan, and ’ Jaxar, and Jogbehah, 36. And ’ Bethnimrah, and Beth-haran, fenced cities; and folds for sheep. 37. And the children of Reuben ’ built ’ Hibbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathain, 38. And Nebo, and Baal-men (’ their names being changed) and ’ Shibmah; and ’ gave other names unto the cities which they builded. 39. And the children of ’ Machir the son of Manaffeh went to Gilead, and took it, and difpofelfed the Amorite which mar in it. 40. And Mofes ’ gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manaffeh, and he dwelt therein. 41. And ’ Jair the son of Manaffeh went and took the small towns thereof and called them ’ Haroah-jair. 42. And Nobah went and took Keroah, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Numbers 32:28-42

As Mofes was not to live till the settlement of the people, he charges Kloazar and Jofhua to fee the agreement here made fulfilled, and the Reuberoites and Gadites renew their engagements; whereupon the cities are allotted them; and being more than they can occupy, half the tribe of Manaffeh, either at their own request, or by divine appointment, as a reward for the bravery of Machir, who difpofelfed the Gileadites, have their lot in Gilead. Each tribe repairs the cities which had been damaged by the war, and focuses their families and cattle, changing the names of the places, in token of their sovereignty, or to abolish the very mention of those idols, after whom they had been called. Now, We cannot be too careful to defray every memorial, which would either lead us into sin, or flit up the idea of it in our minds.