Nombres 32:18-28

18 Nous ne retournerons point dans nos maisons avant que les enfants d'Israël aient pris possession chacun de son héritage;

19 et nous ne posséderons rien avec eux de l'autre côté du Jourdain, ni plus loin, puisque nous aurons notre héritage de ce côté-ci du Jourdain, à l'orient.

20 Moïse leur dit: Si vous faites cela, si vous vous armez pour combattre devant l'Eternel,

21 si tous ceux de vous qui s'armeront passent le Jourdain devant l'Eternel jusqu'à ce qu'il ait chassé ses ennemis loin de sa face,

22 et si vous revenez seulement après que le pays aura été soumis devant l'Eternel, -vous serez alors sans reproche vis-à-vis de l'Eternel et vis-à-vis d'Israël, et cette contrée-ci sera votre propriété devant l'Eternel.

23 Mais si vous ne faites pas ainsi, vous péchez contre l'Eternel; sachez que votre péché vous atteindra.

24 Construisez des villes pour vos petits enfants et des parcs pour vos troupeaux, et faites ce que votre bouche a déclaré.

25 Les fils de Gad et les fils de Ruben dirent à Moïse: Tes serviteurs feront ce que mon seigneur ordonne.

26 Nos petits enfants, nos femmes, nos troupeaux et tout notre bétail, resteront dans les villes de Galaad;

27 et tes serviteurs, tous armés pour la guerre, iront combattre devant l'Eternel, comme dit mon seigneur.

28 Moïse donna des ordres à leur sujet au sacrificateur Eléazar, à Josué, fils de Nun, et aux chefs de famille dans les tribus des enfants d'Israël.

Nombres 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.