Numbers 32:31-41

31 The children of Gad and the children of Re'uven answered, saying, As the LORD has said to your servants, so will we do.

32 We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Kana`an, and the possession of our inheritance [shall remain] with us beyond the Yarden.

33 Moshe gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Re'uven, and to the half-tribe of Menashsheh the son of Yosef, the kingdom of Sichon king of the Amori, and the kingdom of `Og king of Bashan, the land, according to the cities of it with [their] borders, even the cities of the land round about.

34 The children of Gad built Divon, and `Atrot, and `Aro`er,

35 and `Atrot-Shofan, and Ya`zer, and Yogbehah,

36 and Beit-Nimrah, and Beth-haran: fortified cities, and folds for sheep.

37 The children of Re'uven built Heshbon, and El`aleh, and Kiryatayim,

38 and Nevo, and Ba`al-Me`on, (their names being changed,) and Sivmah: and they gave other names to the cities which they built.

39 The children of Makhir the son of Menashsheh went to Gil`ad, and took it, and dispossessed the Amori who were therein.

40 Moshe gave Gil`ad to Makhir the son of Menashsheh; and he lived therein.

41 Ya'ir the son of Menashsheh went and took the towns of it, and called them Havvot-Ya'ir.

Numbers 32:31-41 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.