Numbers 32:17-27

17 and we -- we are armed hasting before the sons of Israel till that we have brought them in unto their place; and our infants have dwelt in the cities of defence because of the inhabitants of the land;
18 we do not turn back unto our houses till the sons of Israel have inherited each his inheritance,
19 for we do not inherit with them beyond the Jordan and yonder, for our inheritance hath come unto us beyond the Jordan at the [sun]-rising.'
20 And Moses saith unto them, `If ye do this thing: if ye are armed before Jehovah for battle,
21 and every armed one of you hath passed over the Jordan before Jehovah, till his dispossessing His enemies from before Him,
22 and the land hath been subdued before Jehovah -- then afterwards ye do turn back, and have been acquitted by Jehovah, and by Israel; and this land hath been to you for a possession before Jehovah.
23 `And if ye do not so, lo, ye have sinned against Jehovah, and know ye your sin, that it doth find you;
24 build for yourselves cities for your infants, and folds for your flock, and that which is going out from your mouth do ye.'
25 And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben speak unto Moses, saying, `Thy servants do as my lord is commanding;
26 our infants, our wives, our cattle, and all our beasts, are there in cities of Gilead,
27 and thy servants pass over, every armed one of the host, before Jehovah, to battle, as my lord is saying.'

Numbers 32:17-27 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.

Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.