Numbers 32:13-23

13 "The Lord was angry with Israel, so he made them wander in the desert for forty years. Finally all the people who had sinned against the Lord died,
14 and now you are acting just like your ancestors! You sinful people are making the Lord even more angry with Israel.
15 If you quit following him, it will add to their stay in the desert, and you will destroy all these people."
16 Then the Reubenites and Gadites came up to Moses and said, "We will build pens for our animals and cities for our children here.
17 Then our children will be in strong, walled cities, safe from the people who live in this land. Then we will prepare for war. We will help the other Israelites get their land,
18 and we will not return home until every Israelite has received his land.
19 We won't take any of the land west of the Jordan River; our part of the land is east of the Jordan."
20 So Moses told them, "You must do these things. You must go before the Lord into battle
21 and cross the Jordan River armed, until the Lord forces out the enemy.
22 After the Lord helps us take the land, you may return home. You will have done your duty to the Lord and Israel, and you may have this land as your own.
23 "But if you don't do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord; know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.

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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.