Numbers 32 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments
  • Numbers 32:1-5 open_in_new

    Chapter 32. The First Settlement Of Tribes of Israel.

    We do not know at what stage this approach took place, but it must have been at an early one for Manasseh/Machir are not mentioned. They would come in later, when they saw the land of Og that they had conquered. The land which Reuben and Gad took was mainly the land which had been controlled by Sihon and his Amorites. The taking of the whole of that area followed later by the seizure of Upper Gilead and Bashan would have taken considerable time and effort, and was probably still going on when the battle with the Midianites took place.

    A quick defeat of Sihon and Og was one thing, taking possession of their countries was another (see Numbers 22:24-25; Numbers 22:35; Deuteronomy 2:34-36; Deuteronomy 3:4-10). But it becomes clear that different generals had been sent with their men and had assailed different places (see below). And as Yahweh had given them the land and they had been told from the beginning that they were to possess it (Deuteronomy 4:1) we can be sure that this procedure was carried out with alacrity. The subjection of Upper Gilead and Bashan could only have had possession in mind for it was not on their route to Canaan.

    4). The Settlement of the Transjordanian Tribes (Numbers 32).

    The defeat of Sihon having taken place (Numbers 22:21-25) and the country having been possessed and given to Israel by Yahweh (Deuteronomy 4:1), it would need to be permanently occupied, and Reuben and Gad, recognising that it suited their way of life, approached Moses for permission to settle there.

    This settlement of the land finalised its cleansing. Those who through idolatry had been sentenced to death had been dealt with and now possession was taken of it in the name of Yahweh.

    Once the details had been sorted out this possession would be a huge encouragement to all Israel. Here were the actual firstfruits of the invasion. And what Yahweh had done here, He could continue to do. So it was described in some detail with this in view.

    But this reminds us that the logistics behind the invasion were far more complicated than appears from the narrative. This is in fact true of all books on warfare. Only a tiny proportion of the complications can be revealed. Here we learn of how Reuben and Gad, over a period of time, took possession of and ‘rebuilt' the land of the Amorites, while Machir did the same in Upper Gilead and Bashan.

    Once the crossing of the Jordan had taken place it would mainly be left in the hands of the young men between thirteen and twenty, partially disabled men of fighting age, and the older men who were unable to fight, together with their feisty womenfolk. And what was also important was that it would secure their rear.

    Analysis.

    a Reuben and Gad desire to settle in Transjordan (Numbers 32:1-2).

    b A description of the desirable cities and desirable land for their cattle (Numbers 32:3-5).

    c Moses is angry at them for discouraging the other tribes (Numbers 32:6-15).

    d Moses reminds them that Yahweh will cast them from the land if they hesitate to enter it, as He did before (Numbers 32:10-15)

    e They covenant that their warriors will go forward with Israel (Numbers 32:16-19).

    e Their going forward is confirmed and agreed (Numbers 32:20-23).

    d Moses permits settlement on the condition that they go forward and do not hesitate (Numbers 32:24-27).

    c Moses confirms to the leadership of the tribes that the soldiers of Reuben and Gad will go with the other tribes (thus preventing discouragement) (Numbers 32:28-32).

    b They receive the desirable cities and build folds for their sheep (Numbers 32:33-38).

    a The land of the Amorites in Transjordan is given to the two tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:39-42).

    Reuben and Gad Desire To Settle in Transjordan (Numbers 32:1-5).

    Numbers 32:1-2

    ‘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; 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,'

    While the Reubenites and Gadites were in process of possessing the land they recognised its huge potential for their large numbers of cattle, and approached the leading body of Israel, made up of Moses, Eleazar and the tribal chieftains.

    Note that in the first instance Reuben is mentioned first out of deference to Reuben's seniority as the firstborn, but that immediately the Gadites then take preference as the stronger tribe, something which will continue throughout the chapter (Numbers 32:6; Numbers 32:25; Numbers 32:29; Numbers 32:31; Numbers 32:33-37).

    Numbers 32:3-4

    Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Sebam, and Nebo, and Beon, the land which Yahweh smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle; and your servants have cattle.”

    They began by outlining the area that they had in mind. It was probably gone into in some detail, but was here described in terms of the chief cities, most of which can be identified with some degree of probability. It was a fertile and well watered area very suitable for herds and flocks.

    “Ataroth (‘crowns”) is probably Khirbet ‘Attarus. It is later mentioned in the Moabite stone when it had been repossessed by the Moabites. Dibon was possibly sited where the modern village of Dhiban is found. The city is mentioned by Rameses II who claimed its capture. It became known as Dibon-gad but is mentioned in the Moabite stone as having been recaptured by them. Jazer was later given to the Merarite family of the Levites, and furnished valuable fighting men in the days of David (1 Chronicles 26:31). The site may be that of Khirbet Gazzir on the Wadi Szaib. Nimrah (Beth-nimrah below in Numbers 32:36) is possibly Tell Nimrin, or Tell Bileibil. Heshbon was Sihon's royal city (Numbers 21:26). Its site has not been definitely identified. But while there are no late bronze age remains on Tell Hesban, there are on nearby sites. Elealeh has been identified with El ‘Al, north east of Heshbon. Nebo is possibly Khirbet Ayn Musa or Khirbet el Mukkayet. It was later recaptured by Mesha of Moab. All these towns would be vulnerable once Moab became strong again centuries later and Israel were weaker because of disobedience.

    Numbers 32:5

    ‘And they said, “If we have found favour in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not bring us over the Jordan.” '

    So knowing that Yahweh had declared that He was giving this land to Israel they staked their claim to it. They asked that they might possess it rather than the promised land over the Jordan. But it was not part of the original ‘promised land' and Israel would always look on it as not quite the same as being in the promised land (Joshua 22:19).

  • Numbers 32:6-9 open_in_new

    Moses Is Angry At Them For Discouraging The Other Tribes (Numbers 32:6-9).

    Numbers 32:6

    ‘And Moses said to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, “Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall you sit here?” '

    Moses took their words as an indication that they were trying to find an easy way out and were unwilling to enter Canaan and confront the nations there. He had cause to remember how Yahweh had punished their fathers for backing down from a conquest of the land. He asked them whether it was really their intention to leave their fellow Israelites to invade Canaan on their own.

    Numbers 32:7

    And for what reason do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which Yahweh has given them?”

    Did they not recognise that this would discourage the others from going forward into the land which Yahweh had given them? Why then were they doing it?

    Numbers 32:8-9

    Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. 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 Yahweh had given them.”

    By discouraging the people in this way they were no different from the scouts who went to the valley of Eshcol and saw the land, and also discouraged the hearts of the people (Numbers 13:21-33), thus preventing them from going into the land which Yahweh had given them, thus rejecting His gift.

  • Numbers 32:10-15 open_in_new

    Moses Reminds Them That Yahweh Will Cast Them From The Land If They Hesitate To Enter It, As He Did Before (Numbers 32:10-15).

    Numbers 32:10

    “ And Yahweh's anger was kindled in that day, and he swore, saying,”

    And the result was that Yahweh's anger was kindled against them, so that He swore what He would do to them.

    Numbers 32:11-12

    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, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed Yahweh.”

    For He had declared that none of them would be allowed to see the land that they had rejected, the land that He had sworn to give to their forefathers. None of the males from twenty years old and upwards would be allowed to enter it, apart from Caleb and Joshua. They would be the exceptions because they had wholly followed Yahweh.

    Numbers 32:13

    And Yahweh's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander to and fro in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of Yahweh, was consumed.”

    Thus was Yahweh's anger kindled against them, and He made them wander to and fro in the wilderness for forty years until the whole of that generation was consumed, because they had done evil in His sight.

    Numbers 32:14

    And, behold, you are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of Yahweh towards Israel.”

    And now here they were doing exactly the same thing. They were rising up in their father's place, adding to those who had been sinful men by being equally sinful, stoking up the fierce anger of Yahweh against Israel.

    Numbers 32:15

    For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people.”

    For did they not realise what the result would be? If they turned away from following Yahweh, and refused to enter the land which God had promised their forefathers to give them? He would again leave them in the wilderness, along with all their fellow-tribesmen, and all of them would be destroyed, and it would all be the fault of the Reubenites and the Gadites.

  • Numbers 32:16-19 open_in_new

    Reuben and Gad Covenant That Their Warriors Will Go Forward With Israel (Numbers 32:16-19).

    Numbers 32:16-17

    ‘And they came near to him, and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones, but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.”

    But the Reubenites and Gadites assured him that they were not trying to avoid entering the land which God had given them. They pointed out that they would establish their families where they were, erecting sheepfolds for their animals, and repairing the fortified cities for them to find protection in, because of the belligerence of the inhabitants of nearby lands, and then they would go forward with the children of Israel, ready armed for battle, until they had brought them into the place that God had for them.

    Numbers 32:18

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

    Indeed they promised that they would not return to their houses until every man of the children of Israel had inherited his inheritance.

    Numbers 32:19

    For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan, and forward, because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of the Jordan eastward.”

    But they themselves would not inherit in Canaan because they believed that God was showing them that their inheritance lay on this side of the Jordan.

  • Numbers 32:20-23 open_in_new

    Their Going Forward Is Confirmed and Agreed (Numbers 32:20-23).

    Numbers 32:20-21

    ‘And Moses said to them, “If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before Yahweh to the war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before Yahweh, until he has driven out his enemies from before him,”

    At these words Moses was satisfied that they were not avoiding entering the land. And he declared that if they would do what they had promised, and would arm themselves to go to war ‘before Yahweh', and every one of them would pass over the Jordan ‘before Yahweh', until He had driven out all His enemies from before Him, then all would be well.

    Notice the phrase ‘before Yahweh'. They would be involved in holy war, in Yahweh's war, and they would be accomplishing God's will in driving out from the land those who had proved their unfitness to be there.

    Numbers 32:22

    And the land is subdued before Yahweh, then afterwards you shall return, and be guiltless towards Yahweh, and towards Israel, and this land shall be to you for a possession before Yahweh.”

    And once the land was subdued in Yahweh's sight, then they would be able to return to their families, and be guiltless towards Yahweh, and towards Israel. None would be able to lay any charge against them. And then this land in which they now were could be to them their own possession before Yahweh.

    Numbers 32:23

    But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Yahweh, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

    But if they did not do so, then let them be sure of this, that their sin would find them out, and they would find themselves enduring the same punishment as their fathers had done, dying in the wilderness.

  • Numbers 32:24-26 open_in_new

    Moses Permits Settlement On Their Accepting His Conditions (Numbers 32:24-26).

    Numbers 32:24

    “ Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do what has proceeded out of your mouth.”

    So he gave them permission to make the necessary safeguards for the future of their families, to repair and reinforce the fenced cities that had been captured, and to erect folds for their animals, on the condition that they would then go forward with the children of Israel over the Jordan.

    Numbers 32:25

    ‘And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do as my lord commands.” '

    So the Gaddites and Reubenites said that they would do all that Moss commanded. Note the terminology with which they address him, which speaks of a contemporary situation remembered, ‘my lord'. This was a rare use of the term, in the giving of an official commitment (compare Numbers 12:11).

    Numbers 32:26

    Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead, but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before Yahweh to battle, as my lord says.” '

    They covenanted that their little ones, and their wives, and their flocks and their cattle would remain in the cities of Gilead (lower Gilead), but they would cross the Jordan with Israel, every man armed for war. They would go forward ‘before Yahweh' to battle, as Moses, their lord had said.

  • Numbers 32:28-32 open_in_new

    Moses Confirms To The Leadership Of The Tribes That The Soldiers of Reuben and Gad Will Go With The Other Tribes (Numbers 32:28-32).

    Numbers 32:28

    ‘ So Moses gave charge concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Israel.'

    On the condition of their promises Moses now gave a charge to Eleazar the Priest and to Joshua, and to the chieftains of the tribes.

    Numbers 32:29-30

    ‘And Moses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who is armed for battle, before Yahweh, and the land shall be subdued before you; then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession, but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”

    And the charge was this. That if the fighting men of Gad and Reuben passed over Jordan with them and the land of Canaan was subdued before Israel, then they should be given the land of Gilead for a permanent possession rather than just a temporary one, But if they would not pass over armed then they would not be granted the land but would have their possessions in the land of Canaan (thus ensuring that they had to cross over).

    Numbers 32:31

    ‘And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, “As Yahweh has said to your servants, so will we do. We will pass over armed before Yahweh into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.” '

    The Gaddites and the Reubenites then publicly confirmed their position. They would do what Yahweh had said. Their fighting men would pass over the Jordan with the tribes of Israel armed ready for battle, and they would accept their inheritance as being in the land east of Jordan.

    It will be noted that nowhere at this stage is there a hint of the Manassites being given land east of Jordan. Thus this agreement was clearly made prior to the full conquest of Bashan, which will in fact now be brought into account.

    It would seem therefore that the information just recounted clearly came from a written account which ceased at this point, presumably a covenant treaty between the Gaddites and the Reubenites, and the rest of Israel. That does not mean that the information given below was given so very much later. The record of the Daughters of Zelophehad demonstrates that the settlement of Machir in Gilead was already being widely discussed. It was just not included in the treaty record made with Gad and Reuben.

  • Numbers 32:33-42 open_in_new

    The Land of the Amorites in Transjordan Is Given To The Two Tribes and the Half Tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:33-42).

    The fulfilment of the treaty was now confirmed with the additional information that Upper Gilead and Bashan were given to the half tribe of Manasseh. We are given no indication as to when this activity took place, but it was clearly before they crossed the Jordan for it is mentioned that ‘Moses gave'. The essential first moves were therefore made before his death. It is, however possible that some of it was completed at a later date, being recorded by Moses' scribe.

    Numbers 32:33

    ‘And Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-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, according to the its cities with their borders, even the cities of the land round about.'

    As a result of the above treaty, and no doubt as a result of one made with the half-tribe of Manasseh at a later date, the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, with the land and the cities, was given to the Gaddites, the Reubenites and the half tribe of Manasseh. This latter probably resulted from the fact that the successful generals in the northern campaign were Manassites. The gift, however was one thing, the possession of it another, especially in Upper Gilead and Bashan. For while the Amorites had been defeated and driven out, they would tend to seek to return, so that in fact some of the cities had to be retaken.

    Numbers 32:34-36

    ‘And the children of Gad built (repaired and fortified) Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, and Atrothshophan, and Jazer, and Jogbehah, and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, as fortified cities, and folds for sheep.'

    The Gaddites immediately set about making the cities that the Israelites had sacked ready for occupation again. They repaired and fortified a number of cities in their allotment. These included Dibon, Ataroth, Nimrah (Beth-nimrah) and Jazer of those mentioned in verse 3, together with Aroer, Atrothshophan, Jogbehah, and Beth-haran, cities north of the Reubenite territory. They also erected the essential folds for the sheep.

    Aroer was presumably not the one in the Arnon Valley, which would be in Reubenite territory, unless in fact the two tribes intermingled, which is very possible. Heshbon would later pass to the Gadites, and the powerful Gadites may well have wanted, with Moab over the river south of Arnon, to guard the southern border. Otherwise it may be the Aroer mentioned in Joshua 13:25. Jogbehah was mentioned in the pursuit by Gideon of the later Midianite oppressors Judges 8:11 and is probably modern Jubeihat. Beth-haran was probably a border strongpoint, and may well be identified with modern Tell Iktanu.

    Numbers 32:37

    ‘And the children of Reuben built (repaired and fortified) Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim, and Nebo, and Baal-meon, their names being changed, and Sibmah. And they gave other names to the cities which they built.'

    The Reubenites also set about repairing and fortifying the cities in their area. These included Heshbon, Elealeh, and Nebo, and possibly Beon (as Baal-meon), all as mentioned in Numbers 32:3. And they no doubt built up other structures which would act as temporary fortresses. Meanwhile the conquest of the north was going on, and Israel as a whole were preparing for the invasion.

    Note that it specifically mentions that some of their names were altered. Some because they contained names of gods. Thus we should not be surprised to find them under other names. However, Moab would still call them by their old names, and when centuries later they retook them the old names would once again become prominent. The initial repairing and fortification would make them habitable and reasonably strong so as to afford a safe haven for those left behind by the fighting men in case of trouble.

    Numbers 32:39

    ‘And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it.'

    Meanwhile in the war against Upper Gilead and Bashan in which Og was first defeated, the children of Machir (sub-tribe of Manasseh) took Upper Gilead and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. It was what they found there that made them subsequently decide to follow in the steps of Gad and Reuben.

    Numbers 32:40

    ‘And Moses gave Gilead to Machir, the son of Manasseh, and he dwelt in it.'

    So on the same principles as had applied to the Gadites and the Reubenites Moses gave Upper Gilead to Machir, no doubt also with a similar treaty.

    Numbers 32:41

    ‘And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its towns, and called them Havvoth-jair.'

    The Manassite general, Jair, captured many ‘towns' (encampments?) in Upper Gilead and named them ‘the tent-villages of Jair'.

    Numbers 32:42

    ‘And Nobah went and took Kenath, and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.'

    Another Manassite general called Nobah, took other towns and villages, including Kenath which he called Nobah after himself. A Kenath appears in several Egyptian texts of 2nd millennium BC. Many identify it with the ruins of Qanawat, but this is uncertain.

    So the land of Sihon was extensively settled by the Gadites and Reubenites, while Upper Gilead and Bashan were settled by the Manassites. We must not, however, see the latter as being as simple as that. Some of the former inhabitants returned to their cities, and were no doubt a continuing problem until the serving soldiers had returned home.

    In all the above it is important to recognise that the name Gilead was very fluid. We know from its mention elsewhere that it could refer to at least part of the kingdom of Sihon, it could also apply to the northern part conquered by the Manassites, and it could apply to the whole area at once.

    This firm establishment of a part of Israel in land given to them by Yahweh must have come as a huge boost to the remainder of the tribes. Here they saw before their very eyes the new prosperity that was going to be theirs. Here was what they were crossing the Jordan to obtain. And having defeated Amorites here, including the fearsome Og, there was no reason why it should be any different across the river. So the recording of this in book form would serve as a huge encouragement in the days to come.

    There are many lessons that we can learn from this passage. It reveals how God was able to deal with the enemies of His people and so expand their blessings. It stresses how all who serve God should be faithful to each other and fight each other's cause. It stresses honour and integrity. It was a lesson against letting others down. It reminds us that we should not just be concerned about our own patch, but seek the blessing and expansion of others, as others once did the same in order to bring the Gospel to our patch. Its emphasis is on sharing both activity and benefits.