Numbers 32:16

16 Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children.

Numbers 32:16 in Other Translations

16 And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

16 Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,

16 But they approached Moses and said, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.

16 They came close to him and said, "All we want to do is build corrals for our livestock and towns for our families.

16 Then they approached him and said, "We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our dependents.

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 “And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the LORD even more angry with Israel.

15 If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.”

16 Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children.

17 But we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land.

18 We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.

Cross References

• 1. ver 24,36; 1 Samuel 24:3; Psalms 50:9; Psalms 78:70
• 2. Exodus 12:38; Deuteronomy 3:19