Numbers 32:28-38

28 Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.
29 He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the LORD, then when the land is subdued before you, you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.
30 But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”
31 The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the LORD has said.
32 We will cross over before the LORD into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.”
33 Then Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and the territory around them.
34 The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks.
37 And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim,
38 as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.

Numbers 32:28-38 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.

Cross References 25

  • 1. ver 29; Deuteronomy 3:18-20; Joshua 1:13
  • 2. Numbers 11:28
  • 3. Numbers 1:16
  • 4. S Numbers 22:4
  • 5. S ver 19
  • 6. ver 23
  • 7. ver 29,32
  • 8. ver 29
  • 9. ver 17
  • 10. S ver 30; Joshua 12:6
  • 11. Joshua 13:24-28; 1 Samuel 13:7
  • 12. Joshua 1:12
  • 13. Numbers 21:21; Deuteronomy 2:26
  • 14. S ver 19; S Joshua 12:5
  • 15. S Numbers 21:24; Numbers 34:14; Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 12:6
  • 16. Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:12; Deuteronomy 4:48; Joshua 12:2; Joshua 13:9; Judges 11:26; 1 Samuel 30:28; 1 Chronicles 5:8; Jeremiah 48:19
  • 17. ver 3
  • 18. Judges 8:11
  • 19. S ver 3
  • 20. S ver 1
  • 21. Numbers 21:25
  • 22. S ver 3
  • 23. Joshua 13:19; 1 Chronicles 6:76; Jeremiah 48:1,23; Ezekiel 25:9
  • 24. S ver 3; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:1,22
  • 25. S ver 3
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