Bible Commentaries
Numbers 32

Verse 1

32:1 Now the children of {a} 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 {b} Gilead, that, behold, the place [was] a place for cattle;

(a) Reuben came from Leah, and Gad from Zilpah her handmaid.

(b) Which was named for the heap of stones that Jacob made as a sign of the covenant between him and Laban in Genesis 31:47.

Verse 13

32:13 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 {c} evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

(c) Because they complained and would not believe their report, which told the truth concerning the land.

Verse 15

32:15 For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and {d} ye shall destroy all this people.

(d) By your occasion.

Verse 17

32:17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their {e} place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

(e) In the land of Canaan.

Verse 20

32:20 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go {f} armed before the LORD to war,

(f) Before the Ark of the Lord.

Verse 21

32:21 And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his {g} enemies from before him,

(g) That is, the inhabitants of the land.

Verse 22

32:22 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 {h} before the LORD.

(h) The Lord will grant you this land which you request, Joshua 1:15.

Verse 23

32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin {i} will find you out.

(i) You shall assuredly be punished for your sin.

Verse 28

32:28 So concerning them Moses {k} commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel:

(k) Moses gave charge that his promise made to the Reubenites, and other, would be performed after his death so that they would not break theirs.

Verse 31

32:31 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the {l} LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.

(l) This is attributed to the Lord, which his messenger speaks.

Verse 33

32:33 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 {m} 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.

(m) The Amorites dwelled on both sides of Jordan: but here he makes mention of them that dwelt on this side: Joshua 10:12 he speaks of them that inhabited beyond Jordan.

Verse 41

32:41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them {n} Havothjair.

(n) That is the villages of Jair.