XXXII. (1) NOW THE CHILDREN OF REUBEN AND THE CHILDREN OF GAD... — These tribes had occupied a contiguous position in their encampments for the space of thirty-eight years (Numbers 2:10; Numbers 2:14), and it was natural that they should desire to be permanently located near each other. THE LAND O... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING US NOT OVER JORDAN. — These words may be understood either simply as a request that the inheritance of the speakers might be assigned to them on the eastern side of the Jordan, or, as they appear to have been understood by Moses, and as they were in all probability designed to be understood, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEREFORE DISCOURAGE YE THE HEART... — The verb which is rendered _discourage,_ and which occurs again in Numbers 32:9, means rather to “alienate,” or “avert.” The cognate noun occurs in Num. adv. 34, in the same connection in which it is used in Numbers 32:9. (See Note _in loc._)... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY HAVE WHOLLY FOLLOWED THE LORD. — See Numbers 14:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MADE THEM WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY YEARS. — Moses here declares the fulfilment of the prediction which he had announced in obedience to the Divine commandment at the time when the spies brought up an evil report of the land. (See Numbers 14:33.)... [ Continue Reading ]
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. (Se... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL GO READY ARMED... — Or, _will equip ourselves in haste._ AND OUR LITTLE ONES SHALL DWELL... — The word _taph,_ which is here rendered “little ones,” appears to include all the defenceless portion of the nation. (See Exodus 12:37.)... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE WILL NOT INHERIT WITH THEM ON YONDER SIDE JORDAN, OR FORWARD... ON THIS SIDE JORDAN EASTWARD. — This is one of the critical passages which determine the meaning of the word which is rendered “on yonder side” in the first clause of the verse, and “on this side” in the second clause. It is true... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE WILL GO ARMED BEFORE THE LORD... — The same verb and the same preposition are here used which are used in Numbers 32:17. It may be inferred from this expression that the army of the Israelites was regarded as the army of the Lord; and it seems probable that there is a reference to the ark of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS LAND SHALL BE YOUR POSSESSION BEFORE THE LORD. — See Deuteronomy 3:12; Joshua 13:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO HALF THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH... — This is the first mention of the tribe of Manasseh. The application for a grant of the land on the eastern side of the Jordan appears to have been made only by the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The explanation, however, of this mention of the half tribe of Manass... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF GAD BUILT DIBON... Better, _repaired_ or _fortified._ Some of the cities mentioned in this and the following verses — as, _e.g.,_ Dibon and Heshbon — are mentioned also in Numbers 21 in connection with the conquest of the Amoritish territory. It is not probable that new cities wo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF MACHIR THE SON OF MANASSEH WENT... — Better, _Now the children of Machir the son of Manasseh had gone to Gilead, and taken it,_ &c. (See Note on Numbers 32:33.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JAIR THE SON OF MANASSEH... — Jair was the son of Segub, the son of Hezron, who married the daughter of Machir, the son of Manasseh (1 Chronicles 2:21). Jair was, therefore, the great-grandson of Manasseh, and was one of those Israelites who were reckoned as belonging to their maternal tribe.... [ Continue Reading ]