Numbers 32:8-42

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:15

For if ye turn away from after him ,.... From following him in the way of his commandments, from attending his word, worship, and ordinances, and from walking after him, who went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, as it is suggested they would, should they stop short here and not go over Jordan into the land of Canaan: he will yet again leave them in the wilderness ; as he did at the time of the affair of the spies, when they were ordered to turn and get into the wilderness by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:16

And they came near unto him ,.... The heads of the tribes of Gad and Reuben came a little nearer to Moses, having something more to say unto him, in order to explain their meaning, and in doing which they used some degree of freedom and boldness with him, see Genesis 44:18 . and said, we will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones not build new ones, but repair the old ones; for there were cities enough in the country, as before named, and no doubt... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:17

But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel ,.... This they said to free themselves from the charge of cowardice, and that they did not mean to sit still while their brethren went to war; they were willing to put on their armour, and be ready to meet the enemy upon the borders of the land, and engage with them, and to expose their lives in favour of their brethren: until we have brought them unto their place ; to the land of Canaan, the place designed for them, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:18

We will not return unto our houses ,.... In the cities built or repaired by them, or to their families, and their substance, their flocks and their herds; all which they should leave behind them, and never think of returning to them: until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance ; until all the tribes were settled in their respective places, and every family and everyone in them had their portion assigned them; and accordingly they did not return until the land... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:19

For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward ,.... This they said, not as being determined whether Moses and the princes were willing or not to stay where they were, and not pass over Jordan to inherit any part there, and much less as despising the good land, but as giving up all pretensions to it, should they be settled where they desired; they were not of that selfish and covetous disposition as to desire any part on the other side Jordan, if it was but granted them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:20

And Moses said unto them ,.... Being better disposed towards them, and more satisfied with the reasonableness of their request, it being explained unto him: if ye will do this thing ; which they had promised: if ye will go armed before the Lord to war ; they had said they would go ready armed before the children of Israel, but Moses expresses it "before the Lord"; which is more agreeable to their encampment and order in marching, for not the standard of Reuben but that of Judah went... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:21

And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord ,.... Moses tries them thoroughly, and is very express in his words, requiring them not only to go armed, or march from the place where they were, towards the land of Canaan, but to go over Jordan, and not some of them only, but all, and that before the Lord; though indeed, when the tribes came to the river Jordan, the ark, which was the symbol of the divine Presence, went before all the tribes into it, and there stayed till they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:22

And the land be subdued before the Lord ,.... For the inhabitants fleeing before his people, and being conquered by them, might be said to be subdued before the Lord, this being done in his presence, by his power, and for his people: then afterward ye shall return : to this side of Jordan, the land of Jazer and Gilead, to their cities, and families there: and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel : having fulfilled all that they promised: and this land shall be your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:23

But if ye will not do so ,.... As they promised they would, and Moses insisted on it that they should: behold, ye have sinned against the Lord making such a request, and not fulfilling the conditions on which it was granted: and be sure your sin will find you out ; fly in their faces, accuse them in their consciences, charge and load them with guilt, and bring deserved punishment upon them: sin may be put, as it often is, for the punishment of sin, which sooner or later will find out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:24

Build ye cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep ,.... For their safety and security, as they proposed to do: and do that which proceedeth out of your mouth ; all that they had promised. read more

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