Numbers 32:1-5

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 32:3

Ataroth, and Dibon, etc. - The places mentioned here belonged to Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, which being conquered by the Israelites, constituted ever after a part of their territories, Numbers 32:33 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 32:5

Let this land be given unto thy servants - Because it was good for pasturage, and they had many flocks, Numbers 32:1 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 32:1

Verse 1 1.Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad. In this narrative we behold, as in a glass, that whilst each individual is but too attentive to his own private interests, he forgets what is just and right. Those, indeed, who seek their own advantage, do not reflect that they are doing injury to others; but it is impossible for them to avoid seeking more than is their due, and preferring themselves to others; and thus they sin against that rule of charity, that we should not seek... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 32:2

Verse 2 2.The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came. Their request was apparently a reasonable one, that, since God had driven out the inhabitants of the land, and its fertility invited them to dwell there, the possession of these empty and deserted fields should not be denied them. Their modesty also was praiseworthy, in that they neither detach themselves from the people, nor seditiously and violently seize upon the places which were so suitable for them; but seek to obtain them by... read more

Group of Brands