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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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'.
‘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.