The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 3:18-20
The pioneers of the invasion of Palestine. Here the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites are directed to "intern" their wives, little ones, and cattle in the cities of Bashan, which were now literally free from the race of the giants, and then to go armed across the Jordan before their fellows, the van of the invading host. These pioneers become thus the least encumbered of the invaders. Their noncombatants are safe in the cities of Bashan, their cattle are in good pastures, they may go... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 3:18-20
Moses reminds the two and a half tribes of the conditions on which they had received the possessions they had desired beyond Jordan (see Numbers 32:20-32 ). All that are meet for the war ; literally, all the sons of might ( בְּנֵי חַיִל ), i . e . not all who were men of war or of age to go to war, but men specially powerful and fitted for warlike enterprise. Until the Lord hath given rest auto your brethren (corer. Exodus 33:14 ). read more