Números 32:18-28

18 No volveremos a nuestras casas hasta que los hijos de Israel posean cada uno su heredad.

19 Porque no tomaremos heredad con ellos al otro lado del Jordán ni adelante, por cuanto tendremos ya nuestra heredad de este lado del Jordán al oriente.

20 Entonces les respondió Moisés: Si lo hiciereis así, si os apercibiereis para ir delante del SEÑOR a la guerra,

21 y pasaréis todos vosotros armados el Jordán delante del SEÑOR, hasta que haya echado a sus enemigos de delante de sí,

22 y que la tierra sea sojuzgada delante del SEÑOR; luego volveréis, y seréis libres de culpa para con el SEÑOR, y para con Israel; y esta tierra será vuestra en heredad delante del SEÑOR.

23 Mas si así no lo hiciereis, he aquí habréis pecado al SEÑOR; y sabed que vuestro pecado os alcanzará.

24 Edificaos ciudades para vuestros niños, y majadas para vuestras ovejas, y haced lo que ha salido de vuestra boca.

25 Y hablaron los hijos de Gad y los hijos de Rubén a Moisés, diciendo: Tus siervos harán como mi señor ha mandado.

26 Nuestros niños, nuestras mujeres, nuestros ganados, y todas nuestras bestias, estarán ahí en las ciudades de Galaad;

27 y tus siervos, armados todos de guerra, pasarán delante del SEÑOR a la guerra, de la manera que nuestro señor dice.

28 Entonces los encomendó Moisés a Eleazar el sacerdote, y a Josué hijo de Nun, y a los príncipes de los padres de las tribus de los hijos de Israel.

Números 32:18-28 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.