Numbers 32:1-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 32:1-15

Israel's tents were now pitched in the plains of Moab, where they continued many months, looking back upon the conquests they had already made of the land of Sihon and Og, and looking forward to Canaan, which they hoped in a little while to make themselves masters of. While they made this stand, and were at a pause, this great affair of the disposal of the conquests they had already made was here concerted and settled, not by any particular order or appointment of God, but at the special... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 32:16-27

We have here the accommodating of the matter between Moses and the two tribes, about their settlement on this side Jordan. Probably the petitioners withdrew, and considered with themselves what answer they should return to the severe reproof Moses had given them; and, after some consultation, they return with this proposal, that their men of war should go and assist their brethren in the conquest of Canaan, and they would leave their families and flocks behind them in this land: and thus they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:1

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle ,.... By which it seems that they had more in proportion than any of the other tribes; by what means it is not easy to say; very probably they were more addicted to the pastoral life, and took more delight in breeding cattle, and were more diligent in taking care of them: however, the reason for this observation presently follows: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead ; Jazer was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:2

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses ,.... The children of Gad are mentioned first, though Reuben was the firstborn, and had a standard under which Gad pitched: it may be, as Aben Ezra thinks, the Gadites were the first authors of this counsel, the contrivers of this scheme; who first moved it to the Reubenites, which they had an opportunity of doing, lying encamped by them; or however, they might be the most busy and active in this affair, or the best... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:3

Ataroth, Dibon, and Jazer ,.... These were places which belonged to the Amorites, and were taken from Sihon, their king: of Ataroth we read nowhere else but in this chapter; of Dibon see Isaiah 15:2 , Jazer was a city, from whence the land about it had its name; it is the same with Jaazer, Numbers 21:32 and stood about fifteen miles from Heshbon F11 Jerom. de loc. Heb. fol. 92. G. , the capital city of the kingdom of Sihon: and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:4

Even the county which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel ,.... In which the above cities were, and perhaps some others not named: this was now in the hands of the people of Israel, being subdued by them, the conquest of which is ascribed unto the Lord, for the victory was of him; it was he that smote their enemies; and delivered their country into their hands; and now Moses, Eleazar, and the princes of the congregation, being the representatives of the people, had a right to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:5

Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight ,.... Directing their speech to Moses, the ruler of the congregation, in a very modest, decent, and respectable manner: let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession ; as their own portion and inheritance, to be enjoyed by them, and their children after them: and bring us not over Jordan ; into the land of Canaan, where as they after explain themselves, they did not desire to have any part with their brethren, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:6

And Moses said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben ,.... Being displeased with their motion, as his following discourse shows, it having at first sight an appearance of covetousness and cowardice: shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? it is not reasonable that your brethren should be left by you and engage in a war with your common enemies, to dispossess them of their land before they can settle in it and you remain here easy and quiet in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:7

Wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel .... Which he suggests it would, should they settle on that side Jordan, since they would lose the assistance of two of their tribes, even two thirds of one of their standards in fighting with their enemies and subduing their land; and besides it might be thought that this request of theirs not only proceeded from selfish views and a love of ease, which might set a bad example to others, but carried in it a distrust of ever being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:8

Thus did your fathers ,.... Meaning not particularly and only the fathers of these two tribes he was speaking to, but of them and the other tribes also, who acted much such a part; did not choose to go into the good land to possess it, when they were bid to do it, but were for sending spies first, which brought an ill report of it, and discouraged the people from going into it; the history of which Moses here gives: when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land ; called only Kadesh,... read more

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