Numbers 32

Chapter 32

The Tribes East of the Jordan

1 The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned vast numbers of livestock. So when they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideally suited for their flocks and herds,2 they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the other leaders of the community. They said,3 “Notice the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah,t Nebo, and Beon.4 The LORD has conquered this whole area for the community of Israel, and it is ideally suited for all our livestock.

5 If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River.”
6 “Do you intend to stay here while your brothers go across and do all the fighting?” Moses asked the men of Gad and Reuben.7 “Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel from going across to the land the LORD has given them?8 Your ancestors did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land.9 After they went up to the valley of Eshcol and explored the land, they discouraged the people of Israel from entering the land the LORD was giving them.10 Then the LORD was very angry with them, and he vowed,11 ‘Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly.

12 The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the LORD.’
13 “The LORD was angry with Israel and made them wander in the wilderness for forty years until the entire generation that sinned in the LORD’s sight had died.14 But here you are, a brood of sinners, doing exactly the same thing! You are making the LORD even angrier with Israel.

15 If you turn away from him like this and he abandons them again in the wilderness, you will be responsible for destroying this entire nation!”
16 But they approached Moses and said, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.17 Then we will arm ourselves and lead our fellow Israelites into battle until we have brought them safely to their land. Meanwhile, our families will stay in the fortified towns we build here, so they will be safe from any attacks by the local people.18 We will not return to our homes until all the people of Israel have received their portions of land.

19 But we do not claim any of the land on the other side of the Jordan. We would rather live here on the east side and accept this as our grant of land.”
20 Then Moses said, “If you keep your word and arm yourselves for the LORD’s battles,21 and if your troops cross the Jordan and keep fighting until the LORD has driven out his enemies,22 then you may return when the LORD has conquered the land. You will have fulfilled your duty to the LORD and to the rest of the people of Israel. And the land on the east side of the Jordan will be your property from the LORD.23 But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the LORD, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

24 Go ahead and build towns for your families and pens for your flocks, but do everything you have promised.”
25 Then the men of Gad and Reuben replied, “We, your servants, will follow your instructions exactly.26 Our children, wives, flocks, and cattle will stay here in the towns of Gilead.

27 But all who are able to bear arms will cross over to fight for the LORD, just as you have said.”
28 So Moses gave orders to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the clans of Israel.29 He said, “The men of Gad and Reuben who are armed for battle must cross the Jordan with you to fight for the LORD. If they do, give them the land of Gilead as their property when the land is conquered.

30 But if they refuse to arm themselves and cross over with you, then they must accept land with the rest of you in the land of Canaan.”
31 The tribes of Gad and Reuben said again, “We are your servants, and we will do as the LORD has commanded!

32 We will cross the Jordan into Canaan fully armed to fight for the LORD, but our property will be here on this side of the Jordan.”

33 So Moses assigned land to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph. He gave them the territory of King Sihon of the Amorites and the land of King Og of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and surrounding lands.
34 The descendants of Gad built the towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

36 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran. These were all fortified towns with pens for their flocks.
37 The descendants of Reuben built the towns of Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

38 Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah. They changed the names of some of the towns they conquered and rebuilt.
39 Then the descendants of Makir of the tribe of Manasseh went to Gilead and conquered it, and they drove out the Amorites living there.40 So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there.41 The people of Jair, another clan of the tribe of Manasseh, captured many of the towns in Gilead and changed the name of that region to the Towns of Jair.t

42 Meanwhile, a man named Nobah captured the town of Kenath and its surrounding villages, and he renamed that area Nobah after himself.

NUMBERS 32

Land East //of the Jordan River //Is Settled

(Deuteronomy 3.12-22)

1 The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned a lot of cattle and sheep, and they saw that the regions of Jazer and Gilead had good pastureland. 2 So they went to Moses, Eleazar, and the other leaders of Israel and said, 3-4 “The [Lord] has helped us capture the land around the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon. That's good pastureland, and since we own cattle and sheep,

5 would you let us stay here east of the Jordan River and have this land as our own?”

6 Moses answered:
You mean you'd stay here while the rest of the Israelites go into battle? 7 If you did that, it would discourage the others from crossing over into the land the [Lord] promised them. 8 t This is exactly what happened when I sent your ancestors from Kadesh-Barnea to explore the land. 9 They went as far as Eshcol Valley, then returned and told the people that we should not enter it. 10 t The [Lord] became very angry. 11 And he said that no one who was 20 years or older when they left Egypt would enter the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not one of those people believed in the [Lord]'s power, 12 except Caleb and Joshua.t They remained faithful to the [Lord],

13 but he was so angry with the others that he forced them to wander around in the desert for 40 years. By that time everyone who had sinned against him had died.
14 Now you people of Reuben and Gad are doing the same thing and making the [Lord] even angrier.

15 If you reject the [Lord], he will once again abandon his people and leave them here in the desert. And you will be to blame!

16 The men from Reuben and Gad replied:
Let us build places to keep our sheep and goats, and towns for our wives and children, 17 where they can stay and be safe. Then we'll prepare to fight and lead the other tribes into battle. 18 We will stay with them until they have settled in their own tribal lands.

19 The land on this side of the Jordan River will be ours, so we won't expect to receive any on the other side.

20 Moses said:
You promised that you would be ready to fight for the [Lord]. 21 You also agreed to cross the Jordan and stay with the rest of the Israelites, until the [Lord] forces our enemies out of the land. If you do these things, 22 then after the [Lord] helps Israel capture the land, you can return to your own land. You will no longer have to stay with the others.

23 But if you don't keep your promise, you will sin against the [Lord] and be punished.

24 Go ahead and build towns for your wives and children, and places for your sheep and goats. Just be sure to do what you have promised.

25 The men from Reuben and Gad answered:
Sir, we will do just what you have said. 26 Our wives and children and sheep and cattle will stay here in the towns in Gilead.

27 But those of us who are prepared for battle will cross the Jordan and fight for the [Lord].
28  t Then Moses said to Eleazar, Joshua, and the family leaders, 29 “Make sure that the tribes of Gad and Reuben prepare for battle and cross the Jordan River with you. If they do, then after the land is in your control, give them the region of Gilead as their tribal land.

30 But if they break their promise, they will receive land on the other side of the Jordan, like the rest of the tribes.”
31 The tribes of Gad and Reuben replied, “We are your servants and will do whatever the [Lord] has commanded.

32 We will cross the Jordan River, ready to fight for the [Lord] in Canaan. But the land we will inherit as our own will be on this side of the river.”

33 So Moses gave the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseht the territory and towns that King Sihon the Amorite had ruled, as well as the territory and towns that King Og of Bashan had ruled.t
34 The tribe of Gad rebuilt the towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth-Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

36 Beth-Nimrah, and Beth-Haran. They built walls around them and also built places to keep their sheep and goats.
37 The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

38 Sibmah, as well as the towns that used to be known as Nebo and Baal-Meon. They renamed all those places.
39 The clan of Machir from the tribe of East Manasseh went to the region of Gilead, captured its towns, and forced out the Amorites.

40 So Moses gave the Machirites the region of Gilead, and they settled there.

41 Jair from the Manasseh tribe captured villages and renamed them “Villages of Jair.”t
42 Nobah captured the town of Kenath with its villages and renamed it Nobah.