Numbers 32:16

16 Then they came up to Moses. They said, "We would like to build pens here for our livestock. We would also like to build cities for our women and children.

Numbers 32:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:16

And they came near unto him
The heads of the tribes of Gad and Reuben came a little nearer to Moses, having something more to say unto him, in order to explain their meaning, and in doing which they used some degree of freedom and boldness with him, see ( Genesis 44:18 )

and said, we will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for
our little ones
not build new ones, but repair the old ones; for there were cities enough in the country, as before named, and no doubt sheepfolds too, as the land was a place of cattle, but those were through the war broken down and demolished, and needed repairing; and this they proposed to do, and leave their children and their cattle to the care of their servants, under the protection of the divine Providence, and did not mean for the present to take up their abode here.

Numbers 32:16 In-Context

14 "Now here you are, you bunch of sinners! You have taken the place of your fathers. And you are making the LORD even more angry with Israel.

15 What if you turn away from following him? Then he'll leave all of these people in the desert again. And it will be your fault when they are destroyed."

16 Then they came up to Moses. They said, "We would like to build pens here for our livestock. We would also like to build cities for our women and children.

17 "But we're ready to prepare ourselves for battle. We're even ready to go ahead of the people of Israel. We'll go with them until we've brought them to their place. While we're gone, our women and children will live in cities that have high walls around them. That will keep them safe from the people who are living in this land.

18 "We won't return to our homes until all of the people of Israel have received their share of the land.