Numbers 32:31-41

31 And the sons of Ruben and the sons of Gad answered, saying, Whatsoever the Lord says to his servants, that will we do.
32 We will go over armed before the Lord into the land of Chanaan, and ye shall give us our inheritance beyond Jordan.
33 And Moses gave to them, even to the sons of Gad and the sons of Ruben, and to the half tribe of Manasse of the sons of Joseph, the kingdom of Seon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Basan, the land and its cities with its coasts, the cities of the land round about.
34 And the sons of Gad built Daebon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,
35 and Sophar, and Jazer, and they set them up,
36 and Namram, and Baetharan, strong cities, and folds for sheep.
37 And the sons of Ruben built Esebon, and Eleale, and Kariatham,
38 and Beelmeon, surrounded , and Sebama; and they called the names of the cities which they built, after their own names.
39 And a son of Machir the son of Manasse went to Galaad, and took it, and destroyed the Amorite who dwelt in it.
40 And Moses gave Galaad to Machir the son of Manasse, and he dwelt there.
41 And Jair the of Manasse went and took their villages, and called them the villages of Jair.

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.

Footnotes 3

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.