Numbers 32:16

Conditions for possession of the land

16 So they approached him and said, "We will build walled enclosures here for our livestock and towns for our children.

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 Now you've taken the place of your ancestors, a group of sinful men, to intensify the LORD's anger against Israel.

15 If you turn away from him, he will turn away again to abandon Israel in the desert. Then you will destroy this entire people."

16 So they approached him and said, "We will build walled enclosures here for our livestock and towns for our children.

17 Then we will eagerly fight in front of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Our children will live in the fortified cities because of the land's inhabitants.

18 And we won't return to our homes until each one of the Israelites takes possession of his property.