1sn While the tribes are on the other side of Jordan, the matter of which tribes would settle there has to be discussed. This chapter begins the settlement of Israel into the tribal territories, something to be continued in Joshua. The chapter has the petitions (vv. 1-5), the response by Moses (vv. 6-15), the proposal (vv. 16-27), and the conclusion of the matter (vv. 28-42). For literature on this subject, both critical and conservative, see S. E. Loewenstein, “The Relation of the Settlement of Gad and Reuben in Numbers 32:1-38, Its Background and Its Composition,” Tarbiz 42 (1972): 12-26; J. Mauchline, “Gilead and Gilgal, Some Reflections on the Israelite Occupation of Palestine,” VT 6 (1956): 19-33; and A. Bergmann, “The Israelite Tribe of Half-Manasseh,” JPOS 16 (1936): 224-54.
2tnHeb “the place was a place of/for cattle.”
3tc Smr and the LXX have Sibmah. Cf. v. 38.
4tn Cf. Baal-meon in v. 38.
5tn The verb is the Hiphil perfect of נָכָה (nakhah), a term that can mean “smite, strike, attack, destroy.”
6tnHeb “eyes.”
7tn The verb is the Hiphil jussive from עָבַר (’avar, “to cross over”). The idea of “cause to cross” or “make us cross” might be too harsh, but “take across” with the rest of the nation is what they are trying to avoid.
8tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
9tn The vav (ו) is a vav disjunctive prefixed to the pronoun; it fits best here as a circumstantial clause, “while you stay here.”
10tnHeb “heart.” So also in v. 9.
11tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the parallel yet chronologically later verb in the next clause.
12tn The infinitive construct here with lamed (ל) is functioning as a result clause.
13tn The Lord had not given it yet, but was going to give it. Hence, the perfect should be classified as a perfect of resolve.
14tn The clause is difficult; it means essentially that “they have not made full [their coming] after” the Lord.
15tn The sentence begins with “if they see….” This is the normal way for Hebrew to express a negative oath – “they will by no means see….” The sentence is elliptical; it is saying something like “[May God do so to me] if they see,” meaning they won’t see. Of course here God is taking the oath, which is an anthropomorphic act. He does not need to take an oath, and certainly could not swear by anyone greater, but it communicates to people his resolve.
16tc The LXX adds “those knowing bad and good.”
17tn The words “to give” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
18tnHeb “in the eyes of.”
19tn The verb is difficult to translate, since it has the idea of “complete, finish” (תָּמָם, tamam). It could be translated “consumed” in this passage (so KJV, ASV); NASB “was destroyed.”
20tn The construction uses a verbal hendiadys with the verb “to add” serving to modify the main verb.
21tnHeb “and you will destroy all this people.”
22tnHeb “our little ones.”
23tn The MT has חֻשִׁים (khushim); the verbal root is חוּשׁ (khush, “to make haste” or “hurry”). But in light of the Greek and Latin Vulgate the Hebrew should probably be emended to חֲמֻשִׁים (hamushim), a qal passive participle meaning “in battle array.” See further BDB 301 s.v. I חוּשׁ, BDB 332 s.v. חֲמֻשִׁים; HALOT 300 s.v. I חושׁ, חישׁ; HALOT 331 s.v. I חמשׁ.
24tnHeb “from before.”
25tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
26tnHeb “said to them.”
27tn The nuance of the perfect tense here has to be the future perfect.
28tnHeb “that which goes out/has gone out of your mouth.”
29tnHeb “and the land is subdued before you.”
30tnHeb “that which the Lord has spoken to your servants, thus we will do.”
31tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
32tnHeb “the land with its cities in the borders of the cities of the land all around.”