# Numbers 32 📖: Tribes Settle East of Jordan [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Numbers Overview]] | [[Numbers 31]] | [[Numbers 33]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Tribes East of the Jordan [[#Verse 01.]] Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideal for cattle, [[#Verse 02.]] the Gadites and the Reubenites came and addressed Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community. They said, [[#Verse 03.]] “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, [[#Verse 04.]] the land that the Lord subdued before the community of Israel, is ideal for cattle, and your servants have cattle.” [[#Verse 05.]] So they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for our inheritance. Do not have us cross the Jordan River.” [[#Verse 06.]] Moses said to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Must your brothers go to war while you remain here? [[#Verse 07.]] Why do you frustrate the intent of the Israelites to cross over into the land that the Lord has given them? [[#Verse 08.]] Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. [[#Verse 09.]] When they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter the land that the Lord had given them. [[#Verse 10.]] So the anger of the Lord was kindled that day, and he swore, [[#Verse 11.]] ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old and upward who came from Egypt will see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, [[#Verse 12.]] except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’ [[#Verse 13.]] So the Lord’s anger was kindled against the Israelites, and he made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years, until all that generation that had done wickedly before the Lord was finished. [[#Verse 14.]] Now look, you are standing in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinners, to increase still further the fierce wrath of the Lord against the Israelites. [[#Verse 15.]] For if you turn away from following him, he will once again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will be the reason for their destruction.” [[#Verse 16.]] Then they came very close to him and said, “We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families, [[#Verse 17.]] but we will maintain ourselves in armed readiness and go before the Israelites until whenever we have brought them to their place. Our descendants will be living in fortified towns as a protection against the inhabitants of the land. [[#Verse 18.]] We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has his inheritance. [[#Verse 19.]] For we will not accept any inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.” [[#Verse 20.]] Then Moses replied, “If you will do this thing, and if you will arm yourselves for battle before the Lord, [[#Verse 21.]] and if all your armed men cross the Jordan before the Lord until he drives out his enemies from his presence [[#Verse 22.]] and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be free of your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. This land will then be your possession in the Lord’s sight. [[#Verse 23.]] “But if you do not do this, then look, you will have sinned against the Lord. And know that your sin will find you out. [[#Verse 24.]] So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep, but do what you have said you would do.” [[#Verse 25.]] So the Gadites and the Reubenites replied to Moses, “Your servants will do as our lord commands. [[#Verse 26.]] Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead, [[#Verse 27.]] but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, to do battle in the Lord’s presence, just as our lord says.” [[#Verse 28.]] So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes. [[#Verse 29.]] Moses said to them: “If the Gadites and the Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, each one equipped for battle in the Lord’s presence, and you conquer the land, then you must allot them the territory of Gilead as their possession. [[#Verse 30.]] But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must receive possessions among you in Canaan.” [[#Verse 31.]] Then the Gadites and the Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the Lord has spoken. [[#Verse 32.]] We will cross armed in the Lord’s presence into the land of Canaan, and then the possession of our inheritance that we inherit will be ours on this side of the Jordan River.” [[#Verse 33.]] So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them. [[#Verse 34.]] The Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, [[#Verse 35.]] Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, [[#Verse 36.]] Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and constructed pens for their flocks. [[#Verse 37.]] The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, [[#Verse 38.]] Nebo, Baal Meon (with a change of name), and Sibmah. They renamed the cities they built. [[#Verse 39.]] The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. [[#Verse 40.]] So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, son of Manasseh, and he lived there. [[#Verse 41.]] Now Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their small towns and named them Havvoth Jair. [[#Verse 42.]] Then Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ###### Verse 33. ###### Verse 34. ###### Verse 35. ###### Verse 36. ###### Verse 37. ###### Verse 38. ###### Verse 39. ###### Verse 40. ###### Verse 41. ###### Verse 42. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Reuben and Gad had large numbers of livestock (32:1). 2. The land of Jazer and Gilead east of the Jordan was good pastureland (32:1). 3. Moses compared their request to the spies who discouraged Israel at Kadesh (32:8-13). 4. The tribes promised to cross over armed and fight until the land was won (32:17-18). 5. Half the tribe of Manasseh also received land east of the Jordan (32:33). 6. Machir, son of Manasseh, took Gilead (32:39-40). 7. Nobah captured Kenath and renamed it after himself (32:42). 8. Joshua 22 records the eastern tribes keeping their promise and returning home. 9. The eastern tribes built an altar by the Jordan as a witness, which almost started a war (Joshua 22:10-34). 10. Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were among the first taken into exile by Assyria (1 Chronicles 5:26). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the One who brings all His people into the inheritance together. The eastern tribes were not to settle until their brothers had rest (32:20-22), and Jesus will not lose any of those the Father gave Him (John 6:39). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Reuben and Gad wanted the land that looked good for their livestock (32:1-5). How can convenience shape our choices more than calling? 2. Moses feared they would discourage the others as the spies had (32:7-9). How can our choices affect other believers? 3. "Be sure that your sin will find you out" (32:23). Why is this both a warning and a mercy? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 6: Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? - 📖 verse 23: Be sure that your sin will find you out. - 📖 verses 20-22: If you arm yourselves and go before the Lord, this land will be yours. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Joshua 01#Verse 12.|Joshua 1:12-15]] - Joshua reminds the eastern tribes of their promise. - 🔗 [[Joshua 22#Verse 01.|Joshua 22:1-6]] - The eastern tribes return home. - 🔗 [[Deuteronomy 03#Verse 12.|Deuteronomy 3:12-20]] - Moses gives land east of the Jordan. - 🔗 [[Galatians 06#Verse 02.|Galatians 6:2]] - Carry one another's burdens. - 🔗 [[John 06#Verse 39.|John 6:39]] - I will lose none of those He has given Me. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 📂 Internal Notes