Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 32

1 NOW the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattel: and when they saw the land of Jazer , and the land of Gilead , that behold, the place was a place for cattel:

A city and country taken from the Amorites, Numb. 21. 32.

A mountainous country, famous for pasturage, Ier. 50. 19. Mich. 7. 14.

3 Ataroth , and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah , and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam , and Nebo, and Beon f,

Different from that Ataroth, Iosh. 16. 2, 7. which was on the other side of Iordan.

Called Beth-nimrah, ver. 36. and Ios. 13. 27. and the waters of Nimrim, Isa. 15. 6.

Which is thought to be the same place called Baal-meon, ver. 38. and Bethmeon, Ier. 48. 23.

4 Even the countrey which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel , is a land for cattel, and thy servants have cattel.

And given to them for a possession, in the same manner as he will give the land of Canaan.

Marginal references: ch. 21. [illegible: 1 word]

5 Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession: and bring us not over Jordan .

To wit, to give us our possession there, but let this land on this side Iordan be our whole possession.

6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here ?

In ease and peace, whilest your brethren are ingaged in a bloody war. Their words were ambiguous, and Moses thought this to be an act of unbelief and sloth and self-love and policy.

9 For when they went up into the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

That they should not attempt to go, but rather return to Egypt, Numb. 14. 4.

Marginal references: chap. 13. 24.

12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite , and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.

So called from Kenaz, his grand-father, or one of his eminent ancestours, Ios. 15. 17. 1 Chron. 4. 13, 14, 15.

14 And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers stead, an increase of sinful men , to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

Succeeding your fathers as in their places and estates, so also in their sins.

15 For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness, and ye shall destroy all this people .

Who being moved by your counsel and example will refuse to go over Iordan and to possess the land of Canaan.

17 But we our selves 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 .

Either all, or as many of us as shall be thought necessary, leaving onely so many as may be necessary to provide for the sustenance and defence of our wives and children here. See Ios. 4. 12, 13.

The Moabites and Edomites or other bordering people.

20 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,

Either 1. sincerely and heartily, as in Gods presence. Or rather 2. before the Ark. which was the token of Gods presence. He alludes either to the order of the tribes in their march, whereby Reuben and Gad marched next and immediately before the ark, as appears from Numb. 2. 10, 14, 16, 17. Or to the manner of their passage over Iordan▪ wherein the Ark went first into Iordan and stood there whilest all the tribes marched over Iordan by and before it, Ios. 3. and 4. and these amongst the rest, as is expresly noted in these very words, that they passed over before the Lord, Ios. 4. 13.

Marginal references: Josh. 1. 13.

22 And the land be subdued before the LORD : then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.

(i. e.) By his presence and gracious and powerful assistance.

Marginal references: Deut. 3. 20.; Deut. 3. 12, 15▪ 16. Josh. 1. 15 and 13. 8.

23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

(i. e.) The punishment of your sin, as that word is very oft used.

24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep, and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth .

Which you have uttered and promised to do. See this or the like phrase, Numb. 30. 2. Mat. 15. 18.

26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattel shall be there in the cities of Gilead t.

r Largely so called, as that word is oft used, for that whole country beyond Iordan, as in other places it is taken more strictly for a part of it, as here below ver. 39, 40. and elsewhere.

30 But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possession among you in the land of Canaan .

They shall forfeit and lose their possessions in Gilead, and shall be constrained to go over Iordan and to seek possessions there among their brethren.

31 And the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.

Either at this time by thy mouth: or formerly, where he commandeth us as well as our brethren to go into Canaan and possess it.

33 And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the Kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorite, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with the cities thereof, in the coasts, even the cities of the countrey round about.

Who are here added to the Tribes of Reuben and Gad, either because upon the good success of the two Tribes of Reuben and Gad, they were encouraged to make the same request for themselves, as having much cattel, as well as they: or because upon further consideration it was found that this portion of land was more than sufficient for those two tribes, and it was given by Moses [illegible: 1+ letters]o these rather than to any other, because these fought against the Amorites with great courage and success, here ver. 39. and Ios▪ 17. 1.

Marginal references: Deut. 3. 2. Josh. 13. 8. and 22. 4.; chap. 21. 24▪ 33.

34 And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer.

(i. e.) Repaired and fortified, as that word is oft used, as 1 King. 12. 25. 2 King. 14. 22. 2 Chron. 8. 1. and 11. 5 &c. and 26. 2. Dan. 4. 30. For they neither had need nor leasure as yet to do more, the old cities not being burnt and ruined, as divers in Canaan were.

38 And Nebo , and Baal-meon, ( their names being changed ) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

Of which city see Deut. 34. 1. Ier. 48. 1.

Either because conquerors of places use to do so: or because the names of other Gods (which Nebo and Baal-meon unquestionably were) were not to be mentioned, Exod. 23. 13. especially at the first settling of the Israelites there, that the very remembrance of the Idols might be blotted out, and so the temptation to Idolatry removed, though afterwards, when that danger was over, they were called by their old names again, Ios. 13. 17, 20▪

Marginal references: See Verse 3. Josh. 23. 7.; Heb. they called by names the names of the cities.

39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it , and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it.

(i. e.) Part of it, or Gilead is here taken more strictly. See above on ver. 29. and Gen. 31. 21. Deut. 3. 12, 13.

Marginal references: Gen. 50. 23.

40 And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh , and he dwelt therein.

(i. e.) Not to Machir himself who doubtless was long since dead, see Gen. 50. 23. the family or posterity of Machir, which are called by their fathers name, as the names of Abraham, Act. 7. 16. of Isaac, Amos 7. 9. of Iacob or Israel frequently, of Iudah and Simeon, Iudg. 1. 3. of David 1 King. 12. 6. are manifestly put for their posterity.

Marginal references: Deut. 3. 12, 13, 15.

41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havoth-jair.

Called here the son of Manasseh, partly because he was so by his mother, 1 Chron. 2. 21, 22. and partly because he joyned himself with the Manassites in this expedition and settled himself among them.

Marginal references: Deut. 3. 14. Josh. 13. 30.

42 And Nobah went, and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Who, though not elsewhere named, was doubtless an eminent person of the Tribe of Manasseh.

Marginal references: Heb. daughters.