Numbers 32:20-30

20 And Moses sayed vnto them: Yf ye will do this thinge that ye will go all harnessed before the Lorde to warre
21 and will go all of you in harnesse ouer Iordane before ye Lorde vntill he haue cast out his enemyes before him
22 and vntill the londe be subdued before ye Lorde: then ye shall returne and be without sinne agenst the Lorde and agenst Israel and this lode shalbe youre possession before the Lorde.
23 But and yf ye will not do so beholde ye synne agenst the Lorde: ad be sure youre synne will fynde you out.
24 Bilde youre cities for youre childern and foldes for youre shepe and se ye do yt ye haue spoken.
25 And the childern of Gad and of Ruben spake vnto Moses sayenge: thy servauntes will do as my lorde commaundeth.
26 Oure childre oure wiues substace and all oure catell shall remayne here in the cities of Gilead.
27 But we thi servauntes will goo all harnessed for the warre vnto batayle before the Lorde as my lorde hath sayed.
28 And Moses comauded Eleazer ye preast and Iosua ye sonne of Nun and the aunciet hedes of the tribes of the childern of Israel
29 and sayed vnto them: Yf the childern of Gad and Ruben will goo with you ouer Iordane all prepared to syghte before the Lorde: then when the lande is subdued vnto you geue them the londe of Gilead to possesse
30 but and yf they will not goo ouer with you in harnesse then they shall haue their possessions amonge you in ye londe of Canaan.

Numbers 32:20-30 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.

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