Advanced Commentary

Texts -- Numbers 32:4-42 (NET)

Context
32:4 the land that the Lord subdued before the community of Israel , is ideal for cattle , and your servants have cattle .” 32:5 So they said , “If we have found favor in your sight , let this land be given to your servants for our inheritance . Do not have us cross the Jordan River .”
Moses’ Response
32:6 Moses said to the Gadites and the Reubenites , “Must your brothers go to war while you remain here ? 32:7 Why do you frustrate the intent of the Israelites to cross over into the land which the Lord has given them? 32:8 Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land . 32:9 When they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land , they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter the land that the Lord had given them. 32:10 So the anger of the Lord was kindled that day , and he swore , 32:11 ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly , not one of the men twenty years old and upward who came from Egypt will see the land that I swore to give to Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , 32:12 except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite , and Joshua son of Nun , for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly .’ 32:13 So the Lord’s anger was kindled against the Israelites , and he made them wander in the wilderness for forty years , until all that generation that had done wickedly before the Lord was finished . 32:14 Now look , you are standing in your fathers ’ place , a brood of sinners , to increase still further the fierce wrath of the Lord against the Israelites . 32:15 For if you turn away from following him, he will once again abandon them in the wilderness , and you will be the reason for their destruction .”
The Offer of the Reubenites and Gadites
32:16 Then they came very close to him and said , “We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families , 32:17 but we will maintain ourselves in armed readiness and go before the Israelites until whenever we have brought them to their place . Our descendants will be living in fortified towns as a protection against the inhabitants of the land . 32:18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has his inheritance . 32:19 For we will not accept any inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River and beyond , because our inheritance has come to us on this eastern side of the Jordan .” 32:20 Then Moses replied , “If you will do this thing , and if you will arm yourselves for battle before the Lord , 32:21 and if all your armed men cross the Jordan before the Lord until he drives out his enemies from his presence 32:22 and the land is subdued before the Lord , then afterward you may return and be free of your obligation to the Lord and to Israel . This land will then be your possession in the Lord’s sight . 32:23 “But if you do not do this , then look , you will have sinned against the Lord . And know that your sin will find you out. 32:24 So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep , but do what you have said you would do.” 32:25 So the Gadites and the Reubenites replied to Moses , “Your servants will do as my lord commands . 32:26 Our children , our wives , our flocks , and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead , 32:27 but your servants will cross over , every man armed for war , to do battle in the Lord’s presence , just as my lord says .” 32:28 So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest , to Joshua son of Nun , and to the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes . 32:29 Moses said to them: “If the Gadites and the Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, each one equipped for battle in the Lord’s presence , and you conquer the land , then you must allot them the territory of Gilead as their possession . 32:30 But if they do not cross over with you armed , they must receive possessions among you in Canaan .” 32:31 Then the Gadites and the Reubenites answered , “Your servants will do what the Lord has spoken . 32:32 We will cross armed in the Lord’s presence into the land of Canaan , and then the possession of our inheritance that we inherit will be ours on this side of the Jordan River .”
Land Assignment
32:33 So Moses gave to the Gadites , the Reubenites , and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites , and the realm of King Og of Bashan , the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them. 32:34 The Gadites rebuilt Dibon , Ataroth , Aroer , 32:35 Atroth Shophan , Jazer , Jogbehah , 32:36 Beth Nimrah , and Beth Haran as fortified cities , and constructed pens for their flocks . 32:37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon , Elealeh , Kiriathaim , 32:38 Nebo , Baal Meon (with a change of name ), and Sibmah . They renamed the cities they built . 32:39 The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead , took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. 32:40 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir , son of Manasseh , and he lived there. 32:41 Now Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their small towns and named them Havvoth Jair . 32:42 Then Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • JABESH

    [smith] (dry). Father of Shallum, the fifteenth king of Israel. (2 Kings 15:10,13,14) Jabesh-gilead, or Jabesh in the territory of Gilead. In its widest sense Gilead included the half tribe of Manasseh, (1 Chronicles 27:21) as...

  • GAD (1)

    [isbe] GAD (1) - (gadh, "fortune"; Gad): 1. The Name: The seventh son of Jacob, whose mother was Zilpah (Gen 30:11), and whose birth was welcomed by Leah with the cry, "Fortunate!" Some have sought to connect the name with that of ...

  • Reubenites

    [nave] REUBENITES, the descendants of Reuben. Military enrollment of, at Sinai, Num. 1:20, 21; in Moab, Num. 26:7. Place of in camp and march, Num. 2:10. Standard of, Num. 10:18. Have their inheritance east of the Jordan, Num. 32...

  • Misjudgment

    [nave] MISJUDGMENT. Instances of Of the Reubenites and Gadites, Num. 32:1-33; Josh. 22:11-31. Of Haah, 1 Sam. 1:14-17. See: Accusation, False; Uncharitableness.

  • Motive

    [nave] MOTIVE Ascribed to God, Psa. 106:8; Ezek. 36:21, 22, 32. Right, required, Matt. 6:1-18. Sinful, illustrated by Cain, Gen. 4:7; 1 John 3:12. Misunderstood The tribes of Reuben and Gad, in asking inheritance E. of Jordan, ...

  • Uncharitableness

    [nave] UNCHARITABLENESS. Isa. 29:20, 21; Matt. 7:1-5 Luke 6:37-42. Luke 12:57; John 7:24; John 8:7; Rom. 2:1; Rom. 14:1-15; 1 Cor. 4:3-5, 7; 1 Cor. 13:1-6; Jas. 4:11, 12 See: Accusation, False; Charitableness; Slander; Speaking, E...

  • Gilead

    [ebd] hill of testimony, (Gen. 31:21), a mountainous region east of Jordan. From its mountainous character it is called "the mount of Gilead" (Gen. 31:25). It is called also "the land of Gilead" (Num. 32:1), and sometimes simply "...
    [nave] GILEAD 1. A region E. of the Jordan allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half tribe of Manasseh, Num. 32:1-30; Deut. 3:13; 34:1; 2 Kin. 10:33. Reubenites expel the Hagarites from, 1 Chr. 5:9, 10, 18-22. Ammonites m...

  • REUBEN

    [isbe] REUBEN - roo'-ben, ru'-ben (re'ubhen; Rhouben): The eldest son of Jacob, born to him by Leah in Paddan-aram (Gen 29:32). 1. Jacob's Oldest Son: This verse seems to suggest two derivations of the name. As it stands in Massore...

  • Gad

    [ebd] fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob's seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, "A troop cometh: and she called," etc., should rather be...
    [nave] GAD 1. Jacob's seventh son, Gen. 30:11; 35:26; Ex. 1:4. Children of, Gen. 46:16; Num. 26:15-18; 1 Chr. 5:11. Prophecy concerning, Gen. 49:19. 2. A tribe of Israel. Blessed by Moses, Deut. 33:20. Enumeration of, at Sinai,...

  • Haste

    [nave] HASTE, in judgment, by Moses and the Israelites, Num. 32:1-19; Josh. 22:10-34. See: Rashness.

  • Fenced cities

    [ebd] There were in Palestine (1) cities, (2) unwalled villages, and (3) villages with castles or towers (1 Chr. 27:25). Cities, so called, had walls, and were thus fenced. The fortifications consisted of one or two walls, on whic...

  • Amorites

    [nave] AMORITES Descendants of Canaan, Gen. 10:15, 16; 1 Chr. 1:13, 14. Were giants, Amos 2:9. Struck by Chedorlaomer and rescued by Abraham, Gen. 14. Territory of, Gen. 14:7; Num. 13:29; 21:13; Deut. 1:4, 7, 19; 3:8, 9; Josh. 5...

  • CITY

    [ebd] The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities o...
    [isbe] CITY - sit'-i (`ir, qiryah; polis): I. THE CANAANITE CITY 1. Origin 2. Extent 3. Villages 4. Sites 5. External Appearance 6. General II. THE CITY OF THE JEWISH OCCUPATION 1. Tower or Stronghold 2. High Place 3. Broad Place 4...

  • Disobedience to God

    [nave] DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD. Denunciations Against Num. 14:11, 12, 22-24; Num. 32:8-13; Deut. 18:19; Deut. 28:15-68 Lev. 26:14-46. Punishment of Of the Egyptians by plagues, See: Plagues. See also Sin, Punishment of. Instances...

  • Manasseh

    [nave] MANASSEH 1. Son of Joseph and Asenath, Gen. 41:50, 51; 46:20; adopted by Jacob on his deathbed, Gen. 48:1, 5-20. Called Manasses, Rev. 7:6. 2. Tribe of. Descendants of Joseph. The two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, ...

  • Machir

    [ebd] sold. (1.) Manasseh's oldest son (Josh. 17:1), or probably his only son (see 1 Chr. 7:14, 15; comp. Num. 26:29-33; Josh. 13:31). His descendants are referred to under the name of Machirites, being the offspring of Gilead (Nu...
    [smith] (sold). The eldest son, (Joshua 17:1) of the patriarch Manasseh by an Aramite or Syrian concubine. (1 Chronicles 7:14) At the time of the conquest the family of Machir had become very powerful, and a large part of the cou...
    [nave] MACHIR 1. One of the sons of Manasseh, Gen. 50:23. Father of the Machirites, Num. 26:29; 36:1. The land of Gilead allotted to, Num. 32:39, 40; Deut. 3:15; Josh. 13:31. Certain cities of Bashan given to, Josh. 13:31; 17:1....

  • Caleb

    [ebd] a dog. (1.) One of the three sons of Hezron of the tribe of Judah. He is also called Chelubai (1 Chr. 2:9). His descendants are enumerated (18-20, 42-49). (2.) A "son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah" (1 Chr. 2:50). Some wo...
    [isbe] CALEB - ka'-leb (kalebh; in the light of the cognate Syriac and Arabic words, the meaning is not "dog," which is kelebh, in Hebrew, but "raging with canine madness"; Chaleb): As a person, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, occurs ...
    [nave] CALEB One of the two survivors of the Israelites permitted to enter the land of promise, Num. 14:30, 38; 26:63-65; 32:11-13; Deut. 1:34-36; Josh. 14:6-15. Sent to Canaan as a spy, Num. 13:6. Brings favorable report, Num. 1...

  • Jair

    [ebd] enlightener. (1.) The son of Segub. He was brought up with his mother in Gilead, where he had possessions (1 Chr. 2:22). He distinguished himself in an expedition against Bashan, and settled in the part of Argob on the borde...
    [isbe] JAIR - ja'-er: (1) Jair (ya'ir, "he enlightens" or "one giving light"): (a) Son, i.e. descendant of Manasseh (Nu 32:41; Dt 3:14; Josh 13:30; 1 Ki 4:13:1 Ch 2:22 f). According to 1 Ch 2:21 f he was the son of ScRub, son of He...
    [smith] (enlightener). A man who on his father?s side was descended from Judah, and on his mother?s from Manasseh. (B.C. 1451.) During, the conquest he took the whole of the tract of Argob (3:14) and in addition possessed himself of...
    [nave] JAIR 1. Son of Manasseh. Founder of twenty-three cities in Gilead, Num. 32:41; Deut. 3:14; Josh. 13:30; 1 Kin. 4:13; 1 Chr. 2:22, 23. 2. A judge of Israel, Judg. 10:3-5. 3. A Benjamite, Esth. 2:5. 4. Father of Elhanan, 1 ...

  • Elealeh

    [ebd] God has ascended, a place in the pastoral country east of Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben (Num. 32:3, 37). It is not again mentioned till the time of Isaiah (15:4; 16:9) and Jeremiah (48:34). It is now an extensive ruin calle...
    [isbe] ELEALEH - e-le-a'-le ('el`aleh, "God has ascended"): Lay in the country taken from Sihon and within the lot given to Reuben (Nu 32:3,17 f). "Their names being changed" seems to apply to all the towns mentioned. There is no i...
    [smith] (the ascending of God), a place on the east of Jordan, taken possession of and rebuilt by the tribe of Reuben. (Numbers 32:3,37) By Isaiah and Jeremiah it is mentioned as a Moabite town. (Isaiah 15:4; 16:9; Jeremiah 48:34)
    [nave] ELEALEH a city of Moab. Taken by the Israelites, Num. 32:3, 37. Repossessed by the Moabites, Isa. 15:4; 16:9.

  • Nobah

    [ebd] howling. (1.) Num. 32:42. (2.) The name given to Kenath (q.v.) by Nobah when he conquered it. It was on the east of Gilead (Judg. 8:11).
    [isbe] NOBAH - no'-ba (nobhah; Codex Vaticanus Naboth, Nabai; Codex Alexandrinus Naboth, Nabeth): (1) Nobah the Manassite, we are told, "went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name" (Nu 3...
    [smith] (barking), an Israelite warrior, (Numbers 32:42) who during the conquest of the territory on the east of Jordan possessed himself of the town of Kenath and the villages or hamlets dependent upon it, and gave them his own name...
    [nave] NOBAH, an Israelite, Num. 32:42.
more

Questions

  • They were one of the seven nations of Canaan and were governed by many independent kings (Josh. 5:1; Josh. 9:10). They originally inhabited a mountain district in the south (Num. 13:29), but later acquired an extensive tract ...

Sermon Illustrations

He Must Punish Sin; Genesis 1:28

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • To formulate a statement that summarizes the teaching of this book it will be helpful to identify some of the major revelations in Numbers. These constitute the unique values of the book.The first major value of Numbers is th...
  • I. Experiences of the older generation in the wilderness chs. 1-25A. Preparations for entering the Promised Land from the south chs. 1-101. The first census and the organization of the people chs. 1-42. Commands and rituals t...
  • Another instance of incomplete obedience followed the great victory God gave His people and the military commanders' sacrificial, voluntary worship of Yahweh.32:1-19 Maybe the leaders of Reuben and Gad concluded that their br...
  • The division of the land of these two Amorite kings among two and one-half Israelite tribes (cf. Num. 32) further fulfilled God's promise to give the land to His people. This extensive portion of real estate was part of the l...
  • After receiving the reminder of his death and as one of his final official acts as Israel's leader, Moses pronounced a prophetic blessing on the tribes of Israel (cf. Gen. 49)."In the ancient Near East, a dying father's final...
  • Having received his marching orders from Yahweh, Joshua prepared to mobilize the nation.1:10-11 Joshua expected to be able to cross the Jordan within three days."The Jordan River wanders about two hundred miles to cover the s...
  • This portion of the Promised Land went to the two and one-half tribes that had requested it previously (Num. 32).13:8-14 This pericope of verses records the boundaries of Israel's whole transjordanian territory. The peoples t...
  • Succoth and Penuel (a variant of Peniel, cf. Gen. 32:30) were towns that stood on the east side of the Jordan beside the Jabbok River. The residents of these villages lived closer to the Midianites than most of the Israelites...
  • The only unusual feature of Jair's life, other than that he came from Transjordan, was that he maintained a network of 30 cities over which his 30 sons ruled in Gilead. His name means "may [God] enlighten."An ancestor named J...
  • Verses 5-7 stress the sorrow and the dilemma the Israelites felt because of the Benjamites' situation. The "great oath"(v. 5) seems to have been that any Israelites who did not participate in the nation's battles against her ...
  • Eli's sons were not only evil in their personal lives, but they flagrantly disregarded the will of God even as they served as leaders of Israel's worship of Yahweh. They neither knew the Lord (in the sense of paying attention...
  • 22:12-13 The psalmist felt he was at the mercy of his enemies as a person is in the presence of a dangerous bull or lion. Cattle grew large and strong in Bashan, the territory east of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee; cf. Num. ...
  • This oracle is similar to the one in Isaiah 15 and 16.555Other oracles against Moab appear in Ezekiel 25:8-11, Amos 2:1-3, and Zephaniah 2:9, but this is the longest one. It is very difficult to say when Jeremiah gave this or...
  • Jesus' genealogy and virgin birth prove His legal human qualification as Israel's King. His baptism was the occasion of His divine approval. His temptation demonstrated His moral fitness to reign. The natural question a thoug...
  • This is one of the sections of Mark's Gospel that has a chiastic structure (cf. 3:22-30; 6:14-29; 11:15-19).A The appeal of Jairus for his daughter 5:21-24B The healing of the woman with the hemorrhage 5:25-34A' The raising o...
Back to Commentary Page
Display Bible



Universal Search:

NET Only
Exact Search
Commentary
Study Dictionary
Word Study
Lexicon
Study Maps System
Sermon Illustrations
Expository
Arts
Resource
Daily Bible Reading
Training Video
Classic NET Bible
iPhone NET Bible
Mobile Bible
TIP #11: [ALL]
created in 0.06 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA