Deuteronomy 3:19

19 Only your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—shall stay behind in the towns that I have given to you.

Deuteronomy 3:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 3:19

But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle
These were to be left behind: for

I know that ye have much cattle;
which made the countries of Gilead and Bashan, so famous for pasturage, agreeable to them; see ( Numbers 32:1 ) these, under the care of servants, and also their wives and children,

shall abide in your cities which I have given you;
and which they rebuilt and repaired, ( Numbers 32:34-42 ) .

Deuteronomy 3:19 In-Context

17 the Arabah also, with the Jordan and its banks, from Chinnereth down to the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, with the lower slopes of Pisgah on the east.

18 At that time, I charged you as follows: "Although the Lord your God has given you this land to occupy, all your troops shall cross over armed as the vanguard of your Israelite kin.

19 Only your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—shall stay behind in the towns that I have given to you.

20 When the Lord gives rest to your kindred, as to you, and they too have occupied the land that the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan, then each of you may return to the property that I have given to you."

21 And I charged Joshua as well at that time, saying: "Your own eyes have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so the Lord will do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross.