Numbers 32:13-23

13 And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them 1wander in the wilderness forty years, until 2all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.
14 And behold, you have risen in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel!
15 For if you 3turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people."
16 Then they came near to him and said, 4"We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
17 but 5we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 6We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance.
19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, 7because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east."
20 So 8Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war,
21 and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the LORD, until he has 9driven out his enemies from before him
22 and the land is subdued before the LORD; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and 10this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and 11be sure your sin will find you out.

Numbers 32:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

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, Nu 32:1-5 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, Nu 32:6-15 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, Nu 32:16-19, 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, Nu 20:20-24, and which they again agreed unto, and promised to perform, Nu 32:25-27, 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, Nu 32:28-30 and which were again promised that they would observe, Nu 32:31,32, 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, Nu 32:33 and the chapter is closed with an account of the cities built or repaired by the children of Gad and Reuben, Nu 32:34-38 and of the cities in Gilead taken and possessed by the children of Machir, and by Jair, who were of the tribe of Manasseh, Nu 32:39-42.

Cross References 11

  • 1. See Numbers 14:33-35
  • 2. Numbers 26:64, 65
  • 3. [Deuteronomy 30:17; Joshua 22:16, 18; 2 Chronicles 7:19, 20; 2 Chronicles 15:2]
  • 4. ver. 24
  • 5. Joshua 4:12, 13
  • 6. Joshua 22:4
  • 7. ver. 33; Joshua 12:1; Joshua 13:8
  • 8. Deuteronomy 3:18; Joshua 1:13, 14; Joshua 4:12, 13
  • 9. Numbers 33:52
  • 10. Deut. 3:12, 15, 16, 18; Joshua 1:15; Joshua 13:8, 32; Joshua 22:4, 9
  • 11. [Genesis 44:16; Isaiah 59:12]
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