Numbers 32:1-42 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

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A PROPOSAL OF COMPROMISE

(vs.1-15)

The children of Israel being now east of the Jordan River, the land there appealed to the tribes of Reuben and Gad particularly because they had great possessions of livestock and the land appeared to be for raising them (v.1). They came therefore to Moses to petition him to allow them to settle in that land (vs.2-5). Long before this Lot thought he could trust the sight of his eyes (Genesis 13:10-11), so that he did not need to think of the Lord's guidance, but his own choice led him into deep trouble. Abram depended on the Lord to lead him and was preserved.

But we do not easily learn by the experiences of others though we may be well acquainted with them. Moses answered them very strongly. Though he was not to go over the Jordan himself, but would die, he was concerned about the nation God had used him to lead out of Egypt. He wanted no part-way measures.

Moses asked them would they settle down where it seems comfortable for them when the other tribes go to war across the Jordan (v.6). This would tend to discourage the children of Israel (v.7). It was really the same thing that Israel had done when the spies had brought back the report of the land nearly 40 years before. They refused to go into the land of Canaan.

Moses reminds them that the Lord's anger was aroused against Israel then, declaring that none of those of Israel over 20 years of age at the time would ever enter the land, except Caleb and Joshua, who had fully followed the Lord (vs.10-11).

Now all of these had died, as the Lord had said, but Moses tells the men that they, a new generation, had arisen, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord. For if now they will not go over Jordan, God would once again leave Israel to wander in the wilderness, and the men of Reuben and Gad would be responsible for Israel's destruction (vs.14-15).

To apply this occasion to ourselves today, it is all too obvious that there are many believers who appreciate the gospel and the elementary truths of Christianity, yet have not the exercise of soul to understand and value their inheritance in heavenly places.

A PROMISE TO FIGHT IN CANAAN BEFORE SETTLING DOWN

(vs.16-23)

When Moses strongly reproved Reuben and Gad for wanting to settle on the east side of Jordan, these tribes expressed themselves before Moses as being willing to have their men go over Jordan to help their brethren to defeat the inhabitants of Canaan before coming back to settle in Gilead. They said they would first build sheep folds for their flocks and cities for their women and children to remain in while the men went over Jordan to battle (vs.16-17). Only when the other tribes had received their inheritance would they return to Gilead (v.19).

Moses responded favorably to this, telling them that if they would keep their promise in having all their armed men go over Jordan to fight with the rest of Israel till all were established in the land, then they would be blameless, and could return to settle in Gilead (vs.20-22). Yet he warned them that if they did not carry out their promise they had sinned against the Lord and they could be sure their sin would find them out. God would deal with them in righteous government. But Moses gave them permission to build in Gilead as they had requested (vs.21-24).

When these two tribes confirmed this promise, Moses commanded Eleazar and Joshua concerning this, that if the armed men of Gad and Reuben would fight in Canaan until the other tribes were established, then Gad and Reuben could settle in Gilead (vs.28-29). If they did not do so, then they would be required to have a possession in Canaan (v.30), which would require their fighting for that possession. Moses knew that he himself would not enter the land, so it was necessary for Eleazar and Joshua to be fully informed of this.

LAND ALLOTTED TO THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES

(vs.33-42)

In verse 33 one half of the tribe of Manasseh is included with the tribes of Gad and Reuben when we are told of Moses giving to them the country east of the Jordan.

Before crossing the Jordan there was time enough given them to build cities for their families. Gad built nine fortified cities (vs.34-36); Reuben built six cities; some of Manesseh conquered the area of Gilead from the Amorites, so were given this as their inheritance; others took the small surrounding towns while others still took Kenah and its villages.

However, although Moses made a concession in allowing these two and a half tribes their portion east of Jordan, there is still a serious lesson for us to learn in this whole history. They were strongly influenced by the sight of their eyes and actually settled down on the wrong side of Jordan. It is a picture of true believers being content to settle down without the spiritual exercise of learning the truth of death with Christ (as the crossing of the Jordan teaches), and therefore not enjoying the truth of being now "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). How many there are in this condition today!

Related Commentaries of Numbers 32:1

Numbers 32:1-42

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;

2 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,

3 Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah,a and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

4 Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:

5 Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?

7 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

8 Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.

9 For when they went up unto 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 sware, saying,

11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not whollyb followed me:

12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.

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.

14 And, behold, ye 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 ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

16 And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.

19 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.

20 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,

21 And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,

22 And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.

23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.

26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:

27 But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.

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:

29 And Moses said unto 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 ye 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 hath said unto thy 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 unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto 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.

34 And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,

35 And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer,c and Jogbehah,

36 And Bethnimrah,d and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.

37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

38 And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gavee other names unto the cities which they builded.

39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it.

40 And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.

41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.

42 And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.