Numbers 32:33-42

Territory of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh

33 So Moses gave to them—to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's son—the kingdom of Sihon the king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og the king of Bashan, including the land, its cities, and the territory surrounding the land's cities.
34 The Gadites built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fortified cities and walled enclosures for flocks.
37 The Reubenites built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
38 Nebo, and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. They named the cities that they built.
39 The descendants of Machir, Manasseh's son, went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
40 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, Manasseh's son, and he lived there.
41 Manasseh's son Jair went and captured their villages and named them Havvoth-jair.
42 Nobah went and captured Kenath and its surrounding villages. He renamed it Nobah after himself.

Numbers 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.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or the villages of Jair
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