Numbers 32 Study Notes

32:1-5 Having journeyed through the arid regions such as Edom and Moab south of the Arnon River, the Reubenites and Gadites observed that the region around Gilead was more fertile. The several rivers in the region such as the Yarmuk, Jabesh, and Jabbok, along with the numerous springs, would provide an ample water supply for their needs. The cities named were located in the highland plains of Transjordan on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. The request for territorial allocation east of the Jordan River was made in proper protocol: they presented themselves as servants seeking favor before Moses . . . Eleazar, and the leaders of the community (cp. 31:13). Their claim was that since the Lord had provided victory over the Amorites and others, and the land could provide ample pasturage for their livestock, they should be allowed to settle there. They added the stipulation that they not be required to cross the Jordan River—they did not want to go to war.

32:6-15 Moses called attention to the real reason why these tribes wanted to settle the Transjordan highlands: they were hesitant about going to war. This was a potentially treasonous act against God’s plan for the nation. The promised land was across the Jordan River to the west (34:12) and not on the eastern side of the river. Moses realized that their request had all the hallmarks of the great rebellion in which Israel had rejected God’s gift of the land. Note the words “discouraging” and “discouraged” in 32:7, 9.

32:9 On the Eshcol Valley, see note at 13:23-24.

32:16-19 The Reubenites and Gadites pledged their full support for the conquest of the land west of the Jordan River—even to the point of leading the way for the remainder of the tribes (we will arm ourselves and be ready to go)—if Moses would allow them to take their inheritance in Transjordan and permit them to leave their families in the safekeeping of the local towns.

32:20-24 Moses consented to the request of these tribes under both positive (if you do this) and negative (if you don’t do this) stipulations. The covenant between the Gad-Reuben alliance and the other ten tribes had Moses as the mediator and the Lord as the witness and guarantor of the commitment made by the two groups.

32:25-32 The Gadites and Reubenites ratified the agreement as servants of Moses, and ultimately of God. All treaty arrangements were ratified in the context of the religious assembly and climaxed by rituals overseen by the priests.

32:33-36 The Gadites were granted land in the southern part of the territory formerly held by King Sihon of the Amorites. Gad shared its northern border with the half-tribe of Manasseh. The cities listed for Gad in the OT suggest that a narrow strip of land in the Jordan River plain, extending from the Jabbok River to the Sea of Galilee, was to be included in the allocation. Aroer (modern ‘Ara‘ir) was located on the King’s Highway, just north of the Arnon River. The Gadite cities are described in Jos 13:24-28. The allocation to half the tribe of Manasseh was generally to the north of the tribe of Gad, extending from the region of Gilead into Bashan and Golan.

32:37-38 The Reubenites were allocated lands and cities south of Gad, especially the cities of Heshbon (the former capital of Sihon’s Amorite kingdom), Elealeh, Kiriathaim . . . Nebo and Baal-meon. Additional cities and territories are described in Jos 13:15-23, including Dibon and Aroer, which were located on the highland plateau just north of the Arnon River Valley.

32:39-42 The Machirite clan of the tribe of Manasseh apparently joined in the quest for Transjordan territory after gaining victory over the Amorites in the upper and northern Gilead region. The language here closely parallels that of 21:32 and 33:52-54, the model terminology for the conquest of the land. They were to take control of the given territory, drive out the inhabitants, and destroy all cultic objects of false religion.