Numbers 32:16-19

G. THE TRIBES-' PLEDGE vv. 16-19
TEXT

Numbers 32:16. And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones: 17. But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the inhabitants of the land. 18. We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance: 19. For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 32:16. Then they came near him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, 17. but we ourselves will go armed and ready before the children of Israel until we have brought them unto their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18. We will not return to our houses until the each of the Children of Israel had taken 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 side of the Jordan toward the east.

COMMENTARY

The answer given Moses by Gad and Reuben made it apparent that their intentions in settling east of the Jordan are not those he had feared. They were more than willing to assist their brothers to whatever degree it was necessary in clearing out the western lands; they desired only to be allowed this productive portion for themselves, and that they first be allowed to make shelters for their animals and cities, or camps, for their families. These camps would have been fortified villages in which the women, children and the aged could enjoy a degree of protection.

To make their willingness completely clear, the two tribes offer not only to go with the other ten, but to arm themselves and precede the others until the conquest is complete. Only then will they return to their homes and families. We encounter some difficulty in understanding just what the two spokesmen meant in affirming our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of Jordan eastward, Numbers 32:19. The allotment has not yet been made, (see Numbers 33:16 ff.), and we have been given no decree from any source that any of the tribes would be permitted to settle here. The statement is best understood to designate the tribal preference, rather than an official allocation, as if to say, With your permission and the Lord'S, we should like this area to be considered our allotment. Apparently none of the other tribes had any objections, to say nothing of any resentment, of the plan and request, which must have been an important factor in resolving the question.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

589.

Show how the Gadites and Reubenites demonstrated their desire to maintain their strong ties with the other tribes.

590.

What conditions did they lay down as preliminary to moving forward to clear out the land?

591.

Looking ahead, how long was it to be before these men would return to their families, and who gave them permission to do so?

592.

Explain how the territory they sought could be called their inheritance.