Numbers 32

Nu 32:1-42.

THE

REUBENITES AND

GADITES

ASK FOR AN

INHERITANCE.

1-5. the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead--A complete conquest

had been made of the country east of the Jordan, comprising "the land

of Jazer," which formed the southern district between the Arnon and

Jabbok and "the land of Gilead," the middle region between the Jabbok

and Jarmouk, or Hieromax, including Bashan, which lay on the north of

that river. The whole of this region is now called the Belka. It has

always been famous for its rich and extensive pastures, and it is still

the favorite resort of the Bedouin shepherds, who frequently contend

for securing to their immense flocks the benefit of its luxuriant

vegetation. In the camp of ancient Israel, Reuben and Gad were

pre-eminently pastoral; and as these two tribes, being placed under the

same standard, had frequent opportunities of conversing and arranging

about their common concerns, they united in preferring a request that

the trans-jordanic region, so well suited to the habits of a pastoral

people, might be assigned to them.

6-19. Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of

Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here--Their

language was ambiguous; and Moses, suspicious that this proposal was an

act of unbelief, a scheme of self-policy and indolence to escape the

perils of warfare and live in ease and safety, addressed to them a

reproachful and passionate remonstrance. Whether they had really

meditated such a withdrawal from all share in the war of invasion, or

the effect of their leader's expostulation was to drive them from their

original purpose, they now, in answer to his impressive appeal,

declared it to be their sincere intention to co-operate with their

brethren; but, if so, they ought to have been more explicit at first.

16. they came near--The narrative gives a picturesque description

of this scene. The suppliants had shrunk back, dreading from the

undisguised emotions of their leader that their request would be

refused. But, perceiving, from the tenor of his discourse, that his

objection was grounded only on the supposition that they would not

cross the Jordan to assist their brethren, they became emboldened to

approach him with assurances of their goodwill.

We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our

little ones--that is, rebuild, repair. It would have been impossible

within two months to found new cities, or even to reconstruct those

which had been razed to the ground. Those cities of the Amorites were

not absolutely demolished, and they probably consisted only of

mud-built, or dry-stone walls.

17. and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the

inhabitants of the land--There was good policy in leaving a sufficient

force to protect the conquered region lest the enemy should attempt

reprisals; and as only forty thousand of the Reubenites and the

Gadites, and a half of Manasseh, passed over the Jordan

(Jos 4:13),

there were left for the security of the new possessions 70,580 men,

besides women and children under twenty years (compare

Nu 26:7, 18, 34).

We ourselves will go ready armed--that is, all of us in a collective

body, or as many as may be deemed necessary, while the rest of our

number shall remain at home to provide for the sustenance and secure

the protection of our families and flocks.

(See on

Jos 4:12).

20-33. Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing--with sincerity

and zeal.

go before the Lord to war--The phrase was used in allusion to the

order of march in which the tribes of Reuben and Gad immediately

preceded the ark (see on

Nu 2:10-31),

or to the passage over the Jordan, in which the ark stood in

mid-channel, while all the tribes marched by in succession

(Jos 3:4),

of course including those of Reuben and Gad, so that, literally, they

passed over before the Lord and before the rest of Israel

(Jos 4:13).

Perhaps, however, the phrase is used merely in a general sense to

denote their marching on an expedition, the purpose of which was

blessed with the presence, and destined to promote the glory, of God.

The displeasure which Moses had felt on the first mention of their

proposal had disappeared on the strength of their solemn assurances.

But a lurking suspicion of their motives seems still to have been

lingering in his mind--he continued to speak to them in an admonitory

strain; and he concluded by warning them that in case of their failing

to redeem their pledge, the judgments of an offended God would

assuredly fall upon them. This emphatic caution against such an

eventuality throws a strong doubt on the honesty of their first

intentions; and yet, whether through the opposing attitude or the

strong invectives of Moses they had been brought to a better state of

mind, their final reply showed that now all was right.

28-32. concerning them Moses commanded--The arrangement itself, as well

as the express terms on which he assented to it, was announced by the

leader to the public authorities. The pastoral country the two tribes

had desired was to be granted them on condition that they would lend

their aid to their brethren in the approaching invasion of Canaan. If

they refused or failed to perform their promise, those possessions

should be forfeited, and they themselves compelled to go across the

Jordan and fight for a settlement like the rest of their brethren.

33. half the tribe of Manasseh--It is nowhere explained in the record

how they were incorporated with the two tribes, or what broke this

great tribe into two parts, of which one was left to follow the

fortunes of its brethren in the settled life of the western hills,

while the other was allowed to wander as a nomadic tribe over the

pasture lands of Gilead and Bashan. They are not mentioned as

accompanying Reuben and Gad in their application to Moses

[Nu 32:1];

neither were they included in his first directions

(Nu 32:25);

but as they also were a people addicted to pastoral pursuits and

possessed as immense flocks as the other two, Moses invited the half of

them to remain, in consequence, probably, of finding that this region

was more than sufficient for the pastoral wants of the others, and he

may have given them the preference, as some have conjectured, for their

valorous conduct in the contests with the Amorites (compare

Nu 32:39,

with Jos 17:1).

34-36. And the children of Gad

built--(See on

Nu 32:16).

Dibon--identified with Dheban, now in ruins, an hour's distance from

the Arnon (Mojeb).

Ataroth (Hebrew, "crowns")--There are several towns so called in

Scripture, but this one in the tribe of Gad has not been identified.

Aroer--now Arair, standing on a precipice on the north bank of the

Arnon.

35-38. Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, &c.--Jaazer, near a famed

fountain, Ain Hazier, the waters of which flow into Wady Schaib, about

fifteen miles from Hesbon. Beth-nimrah, now Nimrin; Heshbon, now

Hesban; Elealeh (Hebrew, "the high"), now Elaal; Kirjathaim

(Hebrew, "the double city"); Nebo, now Neba, near the mountain of

that name; Baal-meon, now Myoun, in ruins, where was a temple of Baal

(Jos 13:17;

Jer 48:23);

Shibmah, or Shebam

(Nu 32:3),

near Heshbon, famous for vines

(Isa 16:9, 10;

Jer 48:32).

38. (their names being changed)--either because it was the general

custom of conquerors to do so; or, rather, because from the prohibition

to mention the names of other gods

(Ex 23:13),

as Nebo and Baal were, it was expedient on the first settlement of the

Israelites to obliterate all remembrance of those idols. (See

Jos 13:17-20).

39. Gilead--now Jelud.

41. Havoth-jair--that is, "tent-villages." Jair, who captured them,

was a descendant of Manasseh on his mother's side

(1Ch 1:21, 22).

42. Nobah--also a distinguished person connected with the eastern

branch of the tribe of Manasseh.