Numbers 32
The Petition of the Reubenites and Gadites
32:11 Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideal for cattle,2
32:2 the Gadites and the Reubenites came and addressed Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community. They said,
32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam,3 Nebo, and Beon,4
32:4 the land that the
Moses’ Response
32:6 Moses said to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Must your brothers go to war while you9 remain here?
32:7 Why do you frustrate the intent10 of the Israelites to cross over into the land which the
The Offer of the Reubenites and Gadites
32:16 Then they came very close to him and said, “We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families,22 32:17 but we will maintain ourselves in armed readiness23 and go before the Israelites until whenever we have brought them to their place. Our descendants will be living in fortified towns as a protection against24 the inhabitants of the land. 32:18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has his inheritance. 32:19 For we will not accept any inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River25 and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.”
32:20 Then Moses replied,26 “If you will do this thing, and if you will arm yourselves for battle before the
32:23 “But if you do not do this, then look, you will have sinned27 against the
32:25 So the Gadites and the Reubenites replied to Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands.
32:26 Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead,
32:27 but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, to do battle in the
32:28 So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes.
32:29 Moses said to them: “If the Gadites and the Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, each one equipped for battle in the
Land Assignment
32:33 So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them.32 32:34 The Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 32:35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 32:36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and constructed pens for their flocks. 32:37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 32:38 Nebo, Baal Meon (with a change of name), and Sibmah. They renamed33 the cities they built.
32:39 The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. 32:40 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, son of Manasseh, and he lived there.34 32:41 Now Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their small towns and named them Havvoth Jair. 32:42 Then Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name.