American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 32
1
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;
Reference
2
The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princes of the congregation, saying,
3
Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
Reference
📍 Locations
4
Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and your servants have cattle:
Reference
5
Why, said they, if we have found grace in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
6
And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brothers go to war, and shall you sit here?
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 13:5
7
And why discourage you the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD has given them?
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Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.
📍 Kadesh-barnea
9
For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.
10
And the LORD's anger was kindled the same time, and he swore, saying,
Reference
References Lord
Numbers 14:11
11
Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:
Reference
12
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
Reference
13
And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:5
14
And, behold, you are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.
15
For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and you shall destroy all this people.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 15:2
16
And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
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But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
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We will not return to our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.
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For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 13:8
20
And Moses said to them, If you will do this thing, if you will go armed before the LORD to war,
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And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him,
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And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward you shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
Reference
23
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 3:11
Romans 2:9
Psalm 140:11
Psalm 139:11
References Lord
1 Corinthians 4:5
Sin
Isaiah 59:12
Proverbs 13:21
Genesis 44:16
Psalm 90:8
Genesis 4:7
24
Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 32:16
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And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, Your servants will do as my lord commands.
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Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 1:14
27
But your servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord said.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 4:12
28
So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel:
Reference
References Moses
Joshua 1:13
29
And Moses said to them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:
30
But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.
31
And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben 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 Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.
33
And Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
Reference
36
And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.
Reference
📍 Locations
Parallel theme
Numbers 32:3
38
And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names to the cities which they built.
Reference
📍 Locations
39
And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 50:23
40
And Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelled therein.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 17:1
41
And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.
Reference
📍 Havvoth-jair
People
42
And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
📍 Locations
Summary of Numbers 32
Numbers 32 contains a request by the tribes of Reuben and Gad to settle on the east side of Jordan instead of receiving an inheritance in Canaan. They brought to Moses' notice that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were appropriate for their great numbers of livestock. Moses was concerned since he remembered the refusal of the nation to enter Canaan after the report of the spies.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad presented their case to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation. They brought to Moses' notice the lands fit for their livestock, which were in great plenty in their territory.
They requested Moses not to require them to cross Jordan, for they had received the east of Jordan as their inheritance. Reuben and Gad's request initially seemed to Moses to be like the rebellion of Israel which led to their wandering in the wilderness for forty years.
Moses hotly contested their request. He asked if the rest of Israel would have to fight while Reuben and Gad kept their cattle without risking their lives. Moses reminded them of the rebellion of the people when he sent the spies to Canaan.
The ten spies had vilified Canaan's people, causing the people to murmur against Moses and refuse to enter the land. God had been displeased at their unbelief and rebellion and had decreed that none of the adults who had left Egypt would enter His promised land.
Moses warned that their rebellion was a snare that could lead to the whole nation's undoing. If Reuben and Gad could live securely on the east of Jordan while the rest of Israel fought, the Israelites would lose heart at the sight of their prosperity and follow them into rebellion. Moses' words were that the same disobedience which had caused the nation to wander was about to repeat itself if Reuben and Gad were not corrected.
Moses reminded Reuben and Gad that the whole nation had wandered for thirty-nine years until those rebels (who had complained about Moses' leadership) had died. Moses would not allow Reuben and Gad to cause another nation-wide rebellion.
The representatives of Reuben and Gad spoke up for their tribes to clarify their request. They assured Moses that they would build sheepfolds for their livestock and cities for their households and then go out with the rest of Israel and fight. They promised Moses not to turn back until all Israel had obtained their inheritance. They assured Moses that their warriors would cross the Jordan with the rest of the nation and that they would not lay claim to a better lot while the rest of the tribes still fought for theirs.
They proposed that their wives, children, flocks, and cattle could remain in the walled cities on the east of the Jordan while their warriors went forth with the rest of the nation. Moses responded that if they would cross over the Jordan and fight with the rest of the nation until they had all obtained their inheritance and then take possession of the lands east of Jordan, he would make them responsible for any failure to comply.
Moses warned them that their sin would be visited upon them if they failed to carry out their promise to him. Moses gave them this principle as a saying: If they knew what they were about and did not do it, their failure would be their sin. The representatives of Reuben and Gad assured Moses that they were willing to keep their covenant. Moses laid this charge upon Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the tribes in regard to the covenant.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad then added the half tribe of Manasseh to their request for the lands on the east of Jordan. Thus, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh received the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, which Israel had conquered. Moses gave the territory to the three tribes, saying that the cities and their suburbs belonged to the tribe which rebuilt them. Reuben rebuilt several cities and called them by new names, while Gad built cities and sheepfolds for their flocks and herds. The half tribe of Manasseh took possession of the Gilead with its cities and slew the remnant of the nation which dwelt there.
Thus, the request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad was a matter of living in the lands which they preferred with their great numbers of cattle. Even when obtaining this concession, they had to make good their promise to the nation, for they had a national obligation to help the rest of their people inherit their lot.
Numbers 32 teaches the reader the importance of fulfilling one's promises. Reuben and Gad had the option to keep their cattle without sharing in the perils of conquering the land of Canaan. However, their adherence to the covenant which they had made showed that they were truly devoted to Israel's cause.
The chapter also shows the reason for Moses' initial objection to the request of Reuben and Gad. He had seen how Israel had suffered at the time of the rebellion of the spies. Moses did not want such an occurrence to take place again, so he warned Reuben and Gad that their rebellion would bring the same punishment upon them as had befallen the nation during the time of the spies.
The chapter shows the importance of an inheritance, for Reuben and Gad had seen fit to take possession of the land which was appropriate to their needs. Yet, even the taking of this land did not release them from their responsibilities to the rest of Israel. They had to pay their share in enabling their fellow Israelites to inherit their lot before they could live in peace with their cattle. This lesson has application today, for the reader may see that the fulfillment of his covenant obligations should not be put off for the comfort of personal pursuits.
The reader can also learn from the manner of the agreement between Moses and the representatives of Reuben and Gad. When they laid their request before Moses, they clearly stated what it was they desired. Moses had warned them of the danger of their rebellion, for he saw that it was a snare. They had made sure that the conditions of their promise were fully understood before it was made. Their promise had been made known before the leaders of the nation, all of whom knew what had been said.
Numbers 32 is a chapter which demonstrates the need to fulfill one's obligations in regard to one's inheritance. Two and a half tribes received the territory east of Jordan, but this did not exempt them from helping the rest of the nation acquire its share of the land of Canaan. Their actions showed clearly that they were willing to pay their share in obtaining what they desired, for they had made a binding promise which they were bound to fulfill.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad presented their case to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation. They brought to Moses' notice the lands fit for their livestock, which were in great plenty in their territory.
They requested Moses not to require them to cross Jordan, for they had received the east of Jordan as their inheritance. Reuben and Gad's request initially seemed to Moses to be like the rebellion of Israel which led to their wandering in the wilderness for forty years.
Moses hotly contested their request. He asked if the rest of Israel would have to fight while Reuben and Gad kept their cattle without risking their lives. Moses reminded them of the rebellion of the people when he sent the spies to Canaan.
The ten spies had vilified Canaan's people, causing the people to murmur against Moses and refuse to enter the land. God had been displeased at their unbelief and rebellion and had decreed that none of the adults who had left Egypt would enter His promised land.
Moses warned that their rebellion was a snare that could lead to the whole nation's undoing. If Reuben and Gad could live securely on the east of Jordan while the rest of Israel fought, the Israelites would lose heart at the sight of their prosperity and follow them into rebellion. Moses' words were that the same disobedience which had caused the nation to wander was about to repeat itself if Reuben and Gad were not corrected.
Moses reminded Reuben and Gad that the whole nation had wandered for thirty-nine years until those rebels (who had complained about Moses' leadership) had died. Moses would not allow Reuben and Gad to cause another nation-wide rebellion.
The representatives of Reuben and Gad spoke up for their tribes to clarify their request. They assured Moses that they would build sheepfolds for their livestock and cities for their households and then go out with the rest of Israel and fight. They promised Moses not to turn back until all Israel had obtained their inheritance. They assured Moses that their warriors would cross the Jordan with the rest of the nation and that they would not lay claim to a better lot while the rest of the tribes still fought for theirs.
They proposed that their wives, children, flocks, and cattle could remain in the walled cities on the east of the Jordan while their warriors went forth with the rest of the nation. Moses responded that if they would cross over the Jordan and fight with the rest of the nation until they had all obtained their inheritance and then take possession of the lands east of Jordan, he would make them responsible for any failure to comply.
Moses warned them that their sin would be visited upon them if they failed to carry out their promise to him. Moses gave them this principle as a saying: If they knew what they were about and did not do it, their failure would be their sin. The representatives of Reuben and Gad assured Moses that they were willing to keep their covenant. Moses laid this charge upon Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the tribes in regard to the covenant.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad then added the half tribe of Manasseh to their request for the lands on the east of Jordan. Thus, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh received the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, which Israel had conquered. Moses gave the territory to the three tribes, saying that the cities and their suburbs belonged to the tribe which rebuilt them. Reuben rebuilt several cities and called them by new names, while Gad built cities and sheepfolds for their flocks and herds. The half tribe of Manasseh took possession of the Gilead with its cities and slew the remnant of the nation which dwelt there.
Thus, the request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad was a matter of living in the lands which they preferred with their great numbers of cattle. Even when obtaining this concession, they had to make good their promise to the nation, for they had a national obligation to help the rest of their people inherit their lot.
Numbers 32 teaches the reader the importance of fulfilling one's promises. Reuben and Gad had the option to keep their cattle without sharing in the perils of conquering the land of Canaan. However, their adherence to the covenant which they had made showed that they were truly devoted to Israel's cause.
The chapter also shows the reason for Moses' initial objection to the request of Reuben and Gad. He had seen how Israel had suffered at the time of the rebellion of the spies. Moses did not want such an occurrence to take place again, so he warned Reuben and Gad that their rebellion would bring the same punishment upon them as had befallen the nation during the time of the spies.
The chapter shows the importance of an inheritance, for Reuben and Gad had seen fit to take possession of the land which was appropriate to their needs. Yet, even the taking of this land did not release them from their responsibilities to the rest of Israel. They had to pay their share in enabling their fellow Israelites to inherit their lot before they could live in peace with their cattle. This lesson has application today, for the reader may see that the fulfillment of his covenant obligations should not be put off for the comfort of personal pursuits.
The reader can also learn from the manner of the agreement between Moses and the representatives of Reuben and Gad. When they laid their request before Moses, they clearly stated what it was they desired. Moses had warned them of the danger of their rebellion, for he saw that it was a snare. They had made sure that the conditions of their promise were fully understood before it was made. Their promise had been made known before the leaders of the nation, all of whom knew what had been said.
Numbers 32 is a chapter which demonstrates the need to fulfill one's obligations in regard to one's inheritance. Two and a half tribes received the territory east of Jordan, but this did not exempt them from helping the rest of the nation acquire its share of the land of Canaan. Their actions showed clearly that they were willing to pay their share in obtaining what they desired, for they had made a binding promise which they were bound to fulfill.