Numbers 32:34-42

I. CITIES BUILT OR TAKEN IN THE LAND vv. 34-42
TEXT

Numbers 32:34. And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, 35. And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, 36. And Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fenced cities; and folds for sheep. 37. And the children of Reuben built Hesbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, 38. And Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded. 39. And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it. 40. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. 41. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havorth-jair. 42. And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 32:34. And the children of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer, and Atroth-shophan and Jazer and Jogbehah, 36. and Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and sheepfolds for sheep. 37. And the children of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kiriathaim, 38. and Nebo and Baal-meon (their names were changed) and Sibmah, and they gave other names to the cities they built. 39. And the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, went to Gilead and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were there in it. 40. So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, the son of Manasseh, and he lived in it. 41. And Jair, the son of Manasseh, went in and took their villages, and called them Hawoth-jair. 42. And Nobah went in and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

COMMENTARY

The text must not be made to mean that the named cities were first constructed by the Israelites; rather, they were rebuilt or restored, in order to provide the necessary security for the families who would remain there. All of the cities are located between the Arnon and the Jabbok rivers. The general territory was very unstable in later days, with much of the area fluctuating between the Gadites, Reubenites, Ammonites, and Moabites. The boundaries are often very difficult to ascertain.

The incident related in Numbers 32:39 is followed by Manasseh's settlement of Gilead. The descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, were especially prominent in taking this territory, and apparently this was the reason Moses awarded them the land. Gilead here is used to apply to the land north of the Yarmukthe area more often known as Bashanindicating a broad use of the term.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

596.

In what sense are the Israelites said to have built the cities in Gilead?

597.

Using a good Bible encyclopedia, determine the widest and most narrow sense in which Gilead is used.

598.

How does this passage of the text help show the probable reason for awarding of a portion of the eastern territory to half of the tribe of Manasseh?