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).
‘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).
“ 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.
‘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).