Numbers 32: The Request of Reuben and Gad
1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, 2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 Therefore they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.”
“The tribes of Reuben and Gad request an inheritance on the east of Jordan. (1-5)… Here is a proposal made by the Reubenites and Gadites, that the land lately conquered might be allotted to them. Two things common in the world might lead these tribes to make this choice; the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. There was much amiss in the principle they went upon; they consulted their own private convenience more than the public good. Thus to the present time, many seek their own things more than the things of Jesus Christ; and are led by worldly interests and advantages to take up short of the heavenly Canaan.” (Matthew Henry)
Did they seek earthly prosperity only? God only knows.
6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? 7 Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them? 8 Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them. 10 So the Lord’s anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, 11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’ 13 So the Lord’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone. 14 And look! You have risen in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel. 15 For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.”
“Moses understands their request as indicating a disinclination on the part of these two tribes to enter the promised land. He reminds them that their fathers suffered the penalty of a similar faintheartedness at Kadesh (Numbers 14) and, fearing that the example of Beuben and Gad may discourage the rest of the people, he refuses their request.” (Dummelow)
“Having possessions down here to which the heart clings, the heart clings also to the blessings which are on this side Jordan, to that measure of rest which the people of God have acquired out of Canaan. ‘Bring us not,’ they say, ‘over Jordan.’ Moses felt the bearing of this wish. If he could not enter the land, according to the government of God, his heart was there nevertheless. He recalls the contempt of the pleasant land at Kadesh-barnea, and severely rebukes Reuben and Gad.” (John Darby’s Synopsis)
For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people… (15) “Who, being moved by your counsel and example, will refuse to go over Jordan and possess the land of Canaan. Thus all who rest satisfied with visible and temporal things, and evidently show by their conduct that they prefer earth to heaven, not only stop short themselves of the rest that remaineth for the people of God, but greatly discourage others in their journey thither, and lay stumbling-blocks in their way. Reader! Arise, depart, this is not thy rest, because it is polluted; it will destroy thee with a sore destruction.” (Joseph Benson's Commentary)
“In our view, Moses' anger and frustration were fully justified. True, he listened to the glorying promises of these potential rebels and permitted them to do as they wished, but there can hardly be any doubt that Moses' first and immediate response to this was correct. This response, of course, was a rehearsal of events following Kadesh-Barnea and the sending out of the spies which resulted as follows: (1) it discouraged Israel; (2) Jehovah's anger was kindled against Israel; (3) God forbade any of that generation except Caleb and Joshua to enter Canaan; and (4) the Lord punished the whole nation by some forty years of aimless wanderings in the wilderness. Now, forty years later, once more standing on the verge of entering Canaan, here the sons of those original sinners once more appear with a plan of their own. They would NOT enter Canaan at all, but settle EAST of Jordan! What a fine place to pasture sheep!” (Coffman Commentary)
16 Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this east side of the Jordan.”
Then they came near to him… (16) “The narrative gives a picturesque description of this scene. The suppliants had shrunk back, dreading from the undisguised emotions of their leader that their request would be refused. But, perceiving, from the tenor of his discourse, that his objection was grounded only on the supposition that they would not cross the Jordan to assist their brethren, they became emboldened to approach him with assurances of their goodwill… they now, in answer to his impressive appeal, declared it to be their sincere intention to co-operate with their brethren; but, if so, they ought to have been more explicit at first.” (Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown) “WE WILL BUILD SHEEPFOLDS… —The sheepfolds were commonly constructed of loose stones piled up on one another. AND CITIES FOR OUR LITTLE ONES…—The word which is rendered ‘build' often means to ‘build up’ or ‘repair,’ and it probably has that meaning in this place, as applied to the cities [recently defeated]. ” (Ellicott's Commentary) WE WILL NOT RETIRN TO OUR HOMES until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan…. (18-19)
REFLECTIONS:… Ease in this life is not always a blessing. It is far better to journey on with the children of Israel, and to suffer affliction for faithfulness, than to set our affections on possessions already received from God in this life. “Note; (1.) It is an alarming symptom of ruin coming upon a land, when the rising generation tread in the sinful paths of their fathers, and grow worse and worse. (2.) It is as base as it is selfish, to desire our own rest and ease when God's people are called to hardships and need our help and assistance. (3.) Past experiences should be treasured up as future memorials. (4.) Holy indignation against sin is a part of the character of the faithful ministers of God.” (Coke Commentary)
After the conquest of Canaan, half of the tribe of Manasseh settled on the east side of the Jordan with them. And so there were perhaps evil effects to this agreement. AND: “It is deserving of notice that the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh were amongst the first who were taken into captivity by the King of Assyria (1 Chronicles 5:26).” (Elliott) The good message is the affirmation that even the earthly Canaan was only a type of Heaven. THE Heavenly's grant, is tied to obedience. There are believer's around the world- in the land of Israel, as well as other lands.
Numbers 32: The Vow of Gad and Reuben
20 Then Moses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, 21 and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be blameless before the Lord and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. 23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what has proceeded out of your mouth.”
Gad and Reuben had offered to “be armed to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place.” (17) but Moses realized that it was not between them and their brethren; it was between them and their God. "The use of the expression 'before Jehovah,' in the words, 'go armed before Jehovah to war,' in Numbers 32:20 and Numbers 32:21, may be explained from the fact, that in the war which they waged at the command of their God, the Israelites were the army of Jehovah, with Jehovah in the midst. Hence the ark of the covenant was taken into the war, as the vehicle and substratum of the presence of Jehovah; whereas it remained behind in the camp, when the people wanted to press forward into Canaan of their own accord (Numbers 14:44). But if this is the meaning of the expression 'before Jehovah,'we may easily understand why the Reubenites and Gadites do not make use of it in Numbers 32:17, namely, because they only promise to go equipped 'before the children of Israel,' i.e., to help their brethren to conquer Canaan. In Numbers 32:32they also adopt the expression, after hearing it from the mouth of Moses (Numbers 32:20)." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary)
Be sure your sin will find you out.... (23) The text does not say when our sin will be detected. It does not say, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out at once.’ It says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out’—if not in life, yet ultimately. It is only a question of time, nothing else.... 'My Lord Cardinal,’ said the unhappy French queen to Richelieu, ‘God does not pay at the end of every week; but at the last He pays.’” (Wells) Brethren, “When sin comes to find you out, like a sleuthhound on the track of the criminal, be sure that it finds you in Jesus. 'That I maybe found in Him.' Nothing will avail to intercept the awful execution of sin’s vengeance, except the blood and righteousness of Jesus. Put Him between you and your sins, between you and your past, between you and the penalty of a broken law. Be sure that only when the blood of Jesus speaks for you through earth and heaven, there can be a cutting off of sin’s terrible entail." (F B Meyer)
25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying: “Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, just as my lord says.”
“And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying,.... In answer to his speech: thy servants will do as my lord commandeth; both with respect to their march before the Lord to battle, and with respect to their provision for their children and flocks.” (Gill's Exposition) They were thus obliged to perform this oath before the Lord.
28 So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel. 29 And Moses said to them: “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben cross over the Jordan with you, every man armed for battle before the Lord, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead as a possession. 30 But if they do not cross over armed with you, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”
”Moses thereupon commanded Eleazar, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes of Israel, i.e., the persons entrusted in Numbers 34:17. with the division of the land of Canaan, to give the Gadites and Reubenites the land of Gilead for a possession, after the conquest of Canaan, if they should go along with them across the Jordan equipped for battle..." (Keil & Delitzsch) before Yahweh.
31 Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying: “As the Lord has said to your servants, so we will do. 32 We will cross over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, but the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us on this side of the Jordan.”
The Gadites and Reubenites repeated their promise once more, perhaps directly to Eleazer, Joshua and the heads of the tribes of Israel- the leaders of the next generation. They must perform it or be guilty.
Numbers 32: They Built Their Cities Before Crossing Jordan
33 So Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding country. 34 And the children of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer, 35 Atroth and Shophan and Jazer and Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran, fortified cities, and folds for sheep. 37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim, 38 Nebo and Baal Meon (their names being changed) and Shibmah; and they gave other names to the cities which they built.
39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he dwelt in it. 41 Also Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its small towns, and called them Havoth Jair. 42 Then Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and he called it Nobah, after his own name.
So Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph… ”The half tribe of Manasseh is not said to have made any request similar to that of the Reubenites and Gadites; but, seeing that they had been specially engaged in the conquest of Gilead (Numbers 32:30), a place was assigned to them also in that district: cp. Deuteronomy 3:13-15." (John Dummelow's Commentary) They are influenced by the actions of these two tribes.
With this agreement behind them, they proceeded to settle in Transjordan until called upon to cross the Jordan River. "We may assume that if these tribes had simply followed Moses' leadership God would have done something even better for them than what their own plan provided. This is what God often does in such situations, ample testimony to which we find throughout Scripture." (Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable)
"Concerning the settlement of these tribes, observe, that they built the cities, that is, repaired them. They changed the names of them; probably they were idolatrous, therefore they should be forgotten.” (Henry) Changes of name (38)- "There is a change of names that inspires the soul with hope. God is to give His servants a new name in the upper world; their name is to be in their foreheads; but in the changing of the name there is no changing in the burning love and the rapturous adoration." (J. Parker, D. D.) But perhaps this change of hope for the new inhabitants was unfounded. There must be a change of name, yea character imparted by God, for the individuals who occupy the land.
And while they should have been drawing close to the Throne of Grace before crossing, they were building their own cities. “A spirit of selfishness, of seeking our own, not the things of Christ, when each one ought to assist others, is as dangerous as it is common. It is impossible to be sincere in the faith, sensible of the goodness of God, constrained by the love of Christ, sanctified by the power of the Holy Ghost, and yet be indifferent to the progress of religion, and the spiritual success of others, through love of ease, or fear of conflict." (Matthew Henry Commentary)
"An undecided, half-and-half Christian is more inconsistent than an open out-and-out worldling or infidel. The unreality of professors is more injurious by far to the cause of God than all the forms of moral pravity put together. This may seem a strong statement; but it is too true. Christian professors who are only mere borderers — men of mixed principles — persons of doubtful deportment — these are the men who most seriously damage the blessed cause, and promote the designs of the enemy of Christ. What we want, just now, is a band of whole-hearted, thorough-going, unmistakable witnesses for Jesus Christ — men who shall declare plainly that they seek a country — earnest, unworldly men.
These are the men for the present crisis. What can be more deplorable, more saddening and discouraging, than to find those who make a lofty profession, who talk loudly of death and resurrection, who boast of their high doctrines and heavenly privileges, but whose walk and ways give the lie to their words? They love the world and the things of the world...."
(C H Mackintosh's Notes on the Pentateuch)
I now feel that I am one of these. I am the man. Let me seek that new name that God has for me with a new zeal. Enable me, Lord Jesus, to abide in tents for now- seeking rather that Better Country.
"Beloved Christian reader, let us see to these things. Let us honestly judge ourselves as in the very presence of God, and put away from us everything, no matter what, that tends to hinder the complete devotion of ourselves in spirit and soul and body to him who loved us and gave Himself for us." (C H Mackintosh's Notes on the Pentateuch)