Numbers 32 Study Notes

32:25-32 The Gadites and Reubenites ratified the agreement as servants of Moses, and ultimately of God. All treaty arrangements were ratified in the context of the religious assembly and climaxed by rituals overseen by the priests.

32:33-36 The Gadites were granted land in the southern part of the territory formerly held by King Sihon of the Amorites. Gad shared its northern border with the half-tribe of Manasseh. The cities listed for Gad in the OT suggest that a narrow strip of land in the Jordan River plain, extending from the Jabbok River to the Sea of Galilee, was to be included in the allocation. Aroer (modern ‘Ara‘ir) was located on the King’s Highway, just north of the Arnon River. The Gadite cities are described in Jos 13:24-28. The allocation to half the tribe of Manasseh was generally to the north of the tribe of Gad, extending from the region of Gilead into Bashan and Golan.

32:37-38 The Reubenites were allocated lands and cities south of Gad, especially the cities of Heshbon (the former capital of Sihon’s Amorite kingdom), Elealeh, Kiriathaim . . . Nebo and Baal-meon. Additional cities and territories are described in Jos 13:15-23, including Dibon and Aroer, which were located on the highland plateau just north of the Arnon River Valley.

32:39-42 The Machirite clan of the tribe of Manasseh apparently joined in the quest for Transjordan territory after gaining victory over the Amorites in the upper and northern Gilead region. The language here closely parallels that of 21:32 and 33:52-54, the model terminology for the conquest of the land. They were to take control of the given territory, drive out the inhabitants, and destroy all cultic objects of false religion.

This root in five other languages means “tear/pull (out),” so in Hebrew pulling out (Is 33:20) tent pegs probably led to the meaning journey (Gn 12:9). Nasa‘ denotes break camp (Ex 14:15), set out, and head for (Nm 14:25). One moves (Jr 31:24), moves on, or moves out. People travel, migrate (Gn 11:2), or wander (Zch 10:2). They go or go to (Gn 33:17). Groups depart (Ex 16:1), leave, or withdraw. Winds come up (Nm 11:31). People pull out items (Jdg 16:3,14); passives indicate pulled or plucked up (Is 38:12). Causative verbs denote lead (Ex 15:22), dig up (Ps 80:8), quarry (Ec 10:9), or set to one side (2Kg 4:4). God makes winds blow (Ps 78:26). The participle, massa‘ (12x), means stage (Gn 13:3), journey, or setting out (Nm 10:2). The plural suggests moving from place to place or order of march (Nm 10:28). In one instance massa‘ is widely rendered quarry (1Kg 6:7).