Nombres 32:33-42

33 Ainsi Moïse donna aux enfants de Gad et aux enfants de Ruben, et à la moitié de la tribu de Manassé, fils de Joseph, le royaume de Sihon, roi des Amoréens, et le royaume d'Og, roi de Bassan, le pays avec ses villes, avec les territoires des villes du pays tout autour.
34 Alors les enfants de Gad bâtirent Dibon, Ataroth, Aroër,
35 Atroth-Shophan, Jaezer, Jogbeha,
36 Beth-Nimra, et Beth-Haran, villes fortes. Ils firent aussi des parcs pour leurs troupeaux.
37 Et les enfants de Ruben bâtirent Hesbon, Elealé, Kirjathaïm,
38 Nébo, et Baal-Meon, dont les noms furent changés, et Sibma; et ils donnèrent des noms aux villes qu'ils bâtirent.
39 Or, les enfants de Makir, fils de Manassé, allèrent en Galaad, et s'en emparèrent, et dépossédèrent les Amoréens qui y étaient.
40 Moïse donna donc Galaad à Makir, fils de Manassé, qui y habita.
41 Et Jaïr, fils de Manassé, alla et prit leurs bourgs, et les appela bourgs de Jaïr.
42 Et Nobach alla et prit Kenath avec les villes de son ressort, et l'appela Nobach d'après son nom.

Nombres 32:33-42 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.

The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.