Numbers 32:37

37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,

Numbers 32:37 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:37

And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and
Kirjathaim.
] Heshbon was the royal city of Sihon king of the Amorites, and Elealeh was within a mile of it, see ( Numbers 32:3 ) , this shows that those cities were not built anew properly, only repaired, for they were cities in being long before; besides, they had not time to build new cities, for in a few months after this they passed over Jordan; though indeed they left men enough behind to rebuild cities, whom they might set to work about them when they departed: Kirjathaim is, by the Targum of Jonathan, called the city of two streets paved with marble, and it adds, this is Beresha: Jerom F20 says, it is now called Coraiatha, which is pretty near its ancient name, and that it is ten miles from Medeba, a city of Arabia, mentioned as one of the cities in the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, ( Numbers 21:30 ) ( Isaiah 15:2 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F20 De loc. Heb. fol. 89. M.

Numbers 32:37 In-Context

35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as fortified cities; they also built corrals for their animals.
37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,
38 also Nebo and Baal Meon and Sibmah. They renamed the cities that they rebuilt.
39 The family of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who lived there.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.