Numbers 32:8

8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.

Numbers 32:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:8

Thus did your fathers
Meaning not particularly and only the fathers of these two tribes he was speaking to, but of them and the other tribes also, who acted much such a part; did not choose to go into the good land to possess it, when they were bid to do it, but were for sending spies first, which brought an ill report of it, and discouraged the people from going into it; the history of which Moses here gives:

when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land;
called only Kadesh, ( Numbers 13:26 ) the reason of the name (See Gill on Numbers 32:13).

Numbers 32:8 In-Context

6 But Moses said to the descendants of Gad and to the descendants of Reuben, "Will your brothers go to war while you yourselves live here?

7 Why are you discouraging the hearts of the {Israelites} from crossing into the land that Yahweh gave to them?

8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.

9 When they went up to the valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the {Israelites} so that they did not come to the land that Yahweh gave to them.

10 So {Yahweh's anger burned} on that day, and he swore an oath, saying,