Numeri 32:26-36

26 I nostri piccoli fanciulli, le nostre mogli, le nostre gregge, e tutto il nostro bestiame dimoreranno colà nelle città di Galaad.

27 Ma quant’è a’ tuoi servitori chiunque sarà atto alla guerra passerà alla guerra, davanti al Signore, come dice il mio signore.

28 E Mosè diede ordine intorno a loro al Sacerdote Eleazaro, e a Giosuè, figliuolo di Nun, e a’ Capi delle nazioni paterne delle tribù de’ figliuoli d’Israele;

29 e disse loro: Se tutti coloro d’infra i figliuoli di Gad, e i figliuoli di Ruben, che sono atti alla guerra, passano con voi il Giordano davanti al Signore, quando il paese vi sarà soggiogato, date loro a possedere il paese di Galaad.

30 Ma, se non passano con voi in arme, abbiano la lor possessione fra voi nel paese di Canaan.

31 E i figliuoli di Gad, e i figliuoli di Ruben, risposero, dicendo: Noi faremo interamente come il Signore ha detto ai tuoi servitori.

32 Noi passeremo in arme nel paese di Canaan, davanti al Signore; sol restici la possessione della nostra eredità di qua dal Giordano.

33 Mosè adunque diede loro, a’ figliuoli di Gad, a’ figliuoli di Ruben, e alla metà della tribù di Manasse, figliuolo di Giuseppe, il regno di Sihon, re degli Amorrei, e il regno di Og, re di Basan, il paese diviso per le sue città, co’ lor confini, le città del paese d’ogni intorno.

34 E i figliuoli di Gad riedificarono Dibon, e Atarot, e Aroer;

35 e Atrotsofan, e Iazer, e Iogbeha;

36 e Betnimra, e Bet-haran, città forti, e fecero ancora delle mandre per le gregge.

Numeri 32:26-36 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.