Numbers 32
32
Land East of the Jordan River Is Settled
(Deuteronomy 3.12-22)
1The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned a lot of cattle and sheep, and they saw that the regions of Jazer and Gilead had good pastureland. 2So they went to Moses, Eleazar, and the other leaders of Israel and said, 3-4“The Lord has helped us capture the land around the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon. That's good pastureland, and since we own cattle and sheep, 5would you let us stay here east of the Jordan River and have this land as our own?”
6Moses answered:
You mean you'd stay here while the rest of the Israelites go into battle? 7If you did that, it would discourage the others from crossing over into the land the Lord promised them. 8#Nu 13.17-33. This is exactly what happened when I sent your ancestors from Kadesh-Barnea to explore the land. 9They went as far as Eshcol Valley, then returned and told the people that we should not enter it. 10#Nu 14.26-35. The Lord became very angry. 11And he said that no one who was 20 years or older when they left Egypt would enter the land he had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not one of those people believed in the Lord's power, 12except Caleb and Joshua.#32.12 Caleb and Joshua: See the note at 14.30. They remained faithful to the Lord, 13but he was so angry with the others that he forced them to wander around in the desert for 40 years. By that time everyone who had sinned against him had died.
14Now you people of Reuben and Gad are doing the same thing and making the Lord even angrier. 15If you reject the Lord, he will once again abandon his people and leave them here in the desert. And you will be to blame!
16The men from Reuben and Gad replied:
Let us build places to keep our sheep and goats, and towns for our wives and children, 17where they can stay and be safe. Then we'll prepare to fight and lead the other tribes into battle. 18We will stay with them until they have settled in their own tribal lands. 19The land on this side of the Jordan River will be ours, so we won't expect to receive any on the other side.
20Moses said:
You promised that you would be ready to fight for the Lord. 21You also agreed to cross the Jordan and stay with the rest of the Israelites, until the Lord forces our enemies out of the land. If you do these things, 22then after the Lord helps Israel capture the land, you can return to your own land. You will no longer have to stay with the others. 23But if you don't keep your promise, you will sin against the Lord and be punished.
24Go ahead and build towns for your wives and children, and places for your sheep and goats. Just be sure to do what you have promised.
25The men from Reuben and Gad answered:
Sir, we will do just what you have said. 26Our wives and children and sheep and cattle will stay here in the towns in Gilead. 27But those of us who are prepared for battle will cross the Jordan and fight for the Lord.
28 #
Js 1.12-15. Then Moses said to Eleazar, Joshua, and the family leaders, 29“Make sure that the tribes of Gad and Reuben prepare for battle and cross the Jordan River with you. If they do, then after the land is in your control, give them the region of Gilead as their tribal land. 30But if they break their promise, they will receive land on the other side of the Jordan, like the rest of the tribes.”
31The tribes of Gad and Reuben replied, “We are your servants and will do whatever the Lord has commanded. 32We will cross the Jordan River, ready to fight for the Lord in Canaan. But the land we will inherit as our own will be on this side of the river.”
33So Moses gave the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh#32.33 half of Manasseh: Or “East Manasseh.” the territory and towns that King Sihon the Amorite had ruled, as well as the territory and towns that King Og of Bashan had ruled.#32.33 ruled: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 33.
34The tribe of Gad rebuilt the towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Atroth-Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36Beth-Nimrah, and Beth-Haran. They built walls around them and also built places to keep their sheep and goats.
37The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38Sibmah, as well as the towns that used to be known as Nebo and Baal-Meon. They renamed all those places.
39The clan of Machir from the tribe of East Manasseh went to the region of Gilead, captured its towns, and forced out the Amorites. 40So Moses gave the Machirites the region of Gilead, and they settled there.
41Jair from the Manasseh tribe captured villages and renamed them “Villages of Jair.”#32.41 Villages of Jair: Or “Havvoth-Jair.”
42Nobah captured the town of Kenath with its villages and renamed it Nobah.
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Numbers 32: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Numbers 32
32
1And the sons of Ruben and Gad had many flocks of cattle: and their substance in beasts was infinite. And when they saw the lands of Jazer and Galaad fit for feeding cattle:
2They came to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and the princes of the multitude, and said:
3Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nemra, Hesebon, and Eleale, and Saban, and Nebo, and Beon:
4The land, which the Lord hath conquered in the sight of the children of Israel, is a very fertile soil for the feeding of beasts: and we thy servants have very much cattle,
5And we pray thee, if we have found favour in thy sight, that thou give it to us thy servants in possession, and make us not pass over the Jordan.
6And Moses answered them: What, shall your brethren go to fight, and will you sit here?
7Why do ye overturn the minds of the children of Israel, that they may not dare to pass into the place which the Lord hath given them?
8Was it not thus your fathers did, when I sent from Cadesbarne to view the land?
9And when they were come as far as the valley of the cluster, having viewed all the country, they overturned the hearts of the children of Israel, that they should not enter into the coasts, which the Lord gave them.
10And he swore in his anger, saying:.
11If these men, that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I promised with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they would not follow me:
12Except Caleb the son of Jephone the Cenezite, and Josue the son of Nun: these have fulfilled my will.
13And the Lord being angry against Israel, led them about through the desert forty years, until the old generation, that had done evil in his sight, was consumed.
14And, behold, said he, you are risen up instead of your fathers, the increase and offspring of sinful men, to augment the fury of the Lord against Israel.
15For if you will not follow him he will leave the people in the wilderness: and you shall be the cause of the destruction of all.
16But they coming near, said: We will make sheepfolds, and stalls for our cattle, and strong cities for our children.
17And we ourselves will go armed and ready for battle before the children of Israel, until we bring them in unto their places. Our little ones, and all we have, shall be in walled cities, for fear of the ambushes of the inhabitants.
18We will not return into our houses until the children of Israel possess their inheritance.
19Neither will we seek any thing beyond the Jordan, because we have already our possession on the east side thereof.
20And Moses said to them: If you do what you promise, go on well appointed for war before the Lord.
21And let every fighting man pass over the Jordan, until the Lord overthrow his enemies:
22And all the land be brought under him. Then shall you be blameless before the Lord and before Israel: and you shall obtain the countries that you desire, before the Lord.
23But if you do not what you say, no man can doubt but you sin against God. And know ye, that your sin shall overtake you.
24Build therefore cities for your children, and folds and stalls for your sheep and beasts: and accomplish what you have promised.
25And the children of Gad and Ruben said to Moses: We are thy servants, we will do what my lord commandeth.
26We will leave our children, and our wives and sheep and cattle, in the cities of Galaad.
27And we thy servants all well appointed will march on to the war, as thou, my lord, speakest.
28Moses therefore commanded Eleazar the priest, and Josue the son of Nun, and the princes of the families of all the tribes of Israel, and said to them:
29If the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben pass with you over the Jordan, all armed for war before the Lord, and the land be made subject to you: give them Galaad in possession.
30But if they will not pass armed with you into the land of Chanaan: let them receive places to dwell in among you.
31And the children of Gad, and the children of Ruben answered: As the Lord hath spoken to his servants, so will we do.
32We will go armed before the Lord into the land of Chanaan: and we confess that we have already received our possession beyond the Jordan.
33Moses therefore gave to the children of Gad and of Ruben, and to the half tribe of Manasses, the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sehon king of the Amorrhites, and the kingdom of Og king of Basan, and their land and the cities thereof round about.
34And the sons of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,
35And Etroth, and Sophan, and Jazer, and Jegbaa,
36And Bethnemra, and Betharan: fenced cities, and folds for their cattle.
37But the children of Ruben built Hesebon, and Eleale, and Cariathaim,
38And Nabo, and Baalmeon (their names being changed) and Sabama: giving names to the cities which they had built.
39Moreover the children of Machir, the son of Manasses, went into Galaad, and wasted it, cutting off the Amorrhites, the inhabitants thereof.
40And Moses gave the land of Galaad to Machir the son of Manasses: and he dwelt in it.
41And Jair the son of Manasses went, and took the villages thereof: and he called them Havoth Jair, that is to say, the villages of Jair.
42Nobe also went, and took Canath with the villages thereof: and he called it by his own name, Nobe.
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