Numbers 32:8-18

8 nonne ita egerunt patres vestri quando misi de Cadesbarne ad explorandam terram
9 cumque venissent usque ad vallem Botri lustrata omni regione subverterunt cor filiorum Israhel ut non intrarent fines quos eis Dominus dedit
10 qui iratus iuravit dicens
11 si videbunt homines isti qui ascenderunt ex Aegypto a viginti annis et supra terram quam sub iuramento pollicitus sum Abraham Isaac et Iacob et noluerunt sequi me
12 praeter Chaleb filium Iepphonne Cenezeum et Iosue filium Nun isti impleverunt voluntatem meam
13 iratusque Dominus adversum Israhel circumduxit eum per desertum quadraginta annis donec consumeretur universa generatio quae fecerat malum in conspectu eius
14 et ecce inquit vos surrexistis pro patribus vestris incrementa et alumni hominum peccatorum ut augeretis furorem Domini contra Israhel
15 qui si nolueritis sequi eum in solitudine populum derelinquet et vos causa eritis necis omnium
16 at illi prope accedentes dixerunt caulas ovium fabricabimus et stabula iumentorum parvulis quoque nostris urbes munitas
17 nos autem ipsi armati et accincti pergemus ad proelium ante filios Israhel donec introducamus eos ad loca sua parvuli nostri et quicquid habere possumus erunt in urbibus muratis propter habitatorum insidias
18 non revertemur in domos nostras usquequo possideant filii Israhel hereditatem suam

Numbers 32:8-18 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 Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.