Numbers 32

1 Now the Reubenites [children of Reuben, descendants of the firstborn son of Jacob] and Gadites [children of Gad, a tribe of Israel], who had very large [exceedingly numerous, a mighty multitude of] herds [flocks, livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats] and flocks [domestic animals, such as sheep and goats], surveyed [saw, looked at, inspected] the lands [regions, territories, specifically the soil or ground] of Jazer [a city east of the Jordan River, originally an Amorite city] and Gilead [a mountainous region, a rocky region east of the Jordan River], and they saw [perceived, understood, beheld] that the region [place, location, territory] was suitable [a place, namely a good place] for livestock [cattle, sheep, and goats, domestic animals]. word study 2 So the Gadites [children of Gad] and Reubenites [descendants of Reuben] came to Moses [the Israelite leader], Eleazar [God has helped] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], and the leaders [high-ranking officials, captains] of the congregation [a gathering of people, the community], and said [to speak, command, or proclaim], word study 3 “Ataroth [a place of crowns], Dibon [a town in Moab], Jazer [an Amorite city], Nimrah [a location east of the Jordan], Heshbon [the capital of the Amorites], Elealeh [God is ascending], Sebam [a village of the Reubenites, also known as Sibmah], Nebo [a mountain in Moab], and Beon [a place of dwelling, also known as Baal-meon], word study 4 which the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] conquered [smote, struck] before the congregation [gathering, assembly] of Israel, are suitable [a land] for livestock [cattle, domestic animals]—and your servants [slaves, those serving] have livestock [cattle, possessions].” word study 5 “If we have found [received, attained] favor [graciousness, kindness] in your sight [before your eyes, in your presence],” they said, “let this land [territory, region] be given [granted, bestowed] to your servants [slaves, attendants] as a possession [inheritance, property]. Do not [by no means] make us cross [pass over, transition] the Jordan [the river, a boundary].” word study 6 But Moses [the Israelite leader] asked the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your brothers [fellow Israelites, close relatives] go to war [battle, armed conflict] while you [as their kinsmen] sit [dwell, remain] here [in this place, at rest]? word study 7 Why are you discouraging [refusing to allow, holding back] the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] from crossing [to pass over, transition] into the land [territory, region] that the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] has given [bestowed, granted] them [as an inheritance, a gift]? word study 8 This is what [thus, in this manner] your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] did when I sent [dispatched, commissioned] them from Kadesh-barnea [a city in the southern desert of Judah] to inspect [see, explore, view] the land [the promised territory, the earth]. word study 9 For when your fathers went up [ascended, to the very top] to the Valley of Eshcol [a valley in Palestine, named after an Amorite, meaning cluster] and saw [looked, gazed, perceived] the land [the earth, a country, or territory], they discouraged [disheartened, refused, forbade] the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] from entering [going into, approaching] the land [the promised land, a country] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] had given [bestowed, granted, provided] them. word study 10 So the anger [wrath, intense displeasure] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was kindled [burned, ignited] that day [a literal 24-hour period, a figurative space of time], and He swore [made an oath, vowed] an oath [a solemn promise], saying [to speak, to declare], word study 11 ‘Because they did not [wholly, completely] follow Me [with all their heart, in faithfulness] wholeheartedly, not one of the men [sons, male descendants] twenty years of age or older [from twenty years and upward] who came out of [were brought out from, escaped] Egypt will see [behold, look upon] the land [earth, ground, territory] that I swore [promised, vowed] to give [bestow, grant] Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— word study 12 not one except Caleb [a faithful follower] son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite [a descendant of Kenaz] and Joshua [a leader, successor of Moses] son of Nun—because they did follow [wholly, completely] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] wholeheartedly [with all their heart, soul, and mind].’ word study 13 The anger [intense wrath, burning indignation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] burned [was kindled, ignited] against Israel [the descendants of Jacob], and He made them wander [to and fro, in a circular motion] in the wilderness [the desert, a desolate place] forty [a significant period of time] years, until the whole generation [a group of people living at the same time] who had done evil [bad, morally wrong] in His sight [before His eyes, in His presence] was gone [consumed, completely destroyed]. word study 14 Now behold [look, take notice], you, a brood [generation, offspring] of sinners [those who have committed sin, transgressors], have risen up [stood up, taken the place] in place of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] to further stoke [add to, increase] the burning anger [fierce wrath, intense displeasure] of the LORD [Yehovah] against Israel [God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel]. word study 15 For if you turn away [stop trusting, give up following] from following Him [as your Lord, in obedience], He will once again [still, yet again] leave this people [nation, community] in the wilderness [desert, empty land], and you will be the cause [responsible, to blame] of their destruction [ruin, corruption].” word study 16 Then the Gadites and Reubenites [approached, came near] approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds [enclosures] here for our livestock [cattle] and cities [towns, settlements] for our little ones [children, families]. word study 17 But we [ourselves, as a community] will arm [equip, prepare for battle] ourselves and be ready [hasten, eager to go] to go ahead of the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] until we have brought them into their place [designated location, promised land]. Meanwhile, our little ones [children, young families] will remain in the fortified [strong, walled] cities for protection [safety, defense] from the inhabitants [residents, dwellers] of the land [earth, territory]. word study 18 We will not [under no circumstances] return [to our previous state, turn back] to our homes [places of dwelling, families] until every Israelite [son of Israel, descendant] has taken possession [inherited, received as a gift] of his inheritance [allotted land, heritage, birthright]. word study 19 Yet we will not have an inheritance [our rightful possession, heritage] with them across the Jordan [beyond, on the other side of] and beyond [further, to a distance], because our inheritance [portion, allotted land] has come to us on the east [sunrise, eastern] side of the Jordan [the river, a key location].” word study 20 Moses replied [said unto them], “If you will do this [thing, namely]—if you will arm [equip, get ready] yourselves [for battle, to go to war] before the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] for battle [war, conflict], word study 21 and if every one of your armed men [equipped for war, as warriors] crosses the Jordan [the key river, a border to the Promised Land] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], until He has driven [dispossessed, overcome] His enemies [adversaries, those who oppose Him] out before Him [from His presence, out of His sight], word study 22 then when the land [the promised territory, earthly inheritance] is subdued [conquered, brought under control] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], you may return [turn back, come again] and be free of obligation [guiltless, innocent] to the LORD and to Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob]. And this land [the earthly possession, heritage] will belong to you as a possession [inheritance, owned property] before the LORD [in His presence, under His authority]. word study 23 But if you do not [fail to, neglect] do this, you will certainly [without a doubt, assuredly] sin [miss the mark, disobey] against the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]—and be assured [know, be certain] that your sin [guilt, rebellion] will find [discover, overtake] you out [and bring consequences upon you]. word study 24 Build [construct, establish] cities [towns, settlements] for your little ones [children, families] and folds [enclosures, sheepfolds] for your flocks [sheep, livestock], but do [fulfill, accomplish] what you have promised [spoken, vowed].” word study 25 The Gadites [sons of Gad, descendants of the seventh son of Jacob] and Reubenites [children of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob] said to Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s servant], “Your servants [those who serve, obey] will do just as [in accordance with, following] our lord [master, ruler] commands [gives orders, appoints]. word study 26 Our [little ones, infants] children, our wives [women], our livestock [flocks], and all [everything, every animal] our animals will remain [stay, be] here in the cities [towns] of [rocky region, mountainous area] Gilead. word study 27 But your servants [armed for war, equipped for battle] are equipped for war, and every man will cross over [pass over, transition] to the battle [war, conflict] before the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], just as our lord [master, leader] says [speaks, commands].” word study 28 So Moses [the leader of Israel, God’s chosen servant] gave orders [commands, instructions] about them to Eleazar [God has helped, the high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], to Joshua [God is salvation, the son of Nun] son of Nun [fish, posterity], and to the family leaders [heads, chiefs] of the tribes [groups of people] of Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob]. word study 29 And Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant] said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites [the children of Gad and Reuben, tribes of Israel] cross the Jordan [the river] with you, with every man armed [equipped, prepared] for battle [war, conflict] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], and the land [the earth, the promised territory] is subdued [conquered, brought under control] before you, then you are to give them the land of Gilead [a region east of the Jordan, a place of refuge] as a possession [an inheritance, a gift]. word study 30 But if they do not arm [equip for war, prepare for battle] themselves and go across [pass over, transition] with you, then they must accept [take hold of, grasp] their possession [inheritance, allotted land] among you in the land [territory, region] of Canaan [the promised land, a land of milk and honey].” word study 31 The Gadites [children of Gad, descendants of the seventh son of Jacob] and Reubenites [children of Reuben, firstborn son of Jacob and Leah] replied, “As the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has spoken [communicated, commanded] to your servants [those who serve, obey], so we will do [fulfill, obey, make happen]. word study 32 We [as a unified group] will cross over [pass over, transition] into the land [territory, region] of Canaan [the promised land, modern-day Israel] armed [equipped for war, prepared for battle] before [in the presence of, facing] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], that we may have [possess, inherit] our inheritance [possession, family heirloom] on this side [region, area] of the Jordan [the river running from Lebanon to the Dead Sea].” word study 33 So Moses [the Israelite leader] gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe [a division of the tribe] of Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob] son of Joseph [Jehovah has added] the kingdom [a realm or territory] of Sihon [an Amorite king] king of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe] and the kingdom of Og [a powerful king] king of Bashan [a fertile region]—the land [the soil or ground, a country] including its cities [towns or settlements] and the territory [a region or area] surrounding them [encompassing or enclosing]. word study 34 And the Gadites [children of Gad, descendants of the seventh son of Jacob] built up [established, rebuilt, or repaired] Dibon [Dibon-gad, a town in Moab], Ataroth [a place of crowns, a boundary location], Aroer [a place of ruins, a city in Palestine], word study 35 Atroth-shophan [crowns of their rapine, a place of plunder], Jazer [originally an Amorite city], Jogbehah [a lofty or high place, east of the Jordan River], word study 36 Beth-nimrah [house of the leopard], and Beth-haran [house of their mount] as fortified [strongly defended, walled] cities, and they built folds [enclosures, sheepfolds] for their flocks [sheep, herds]. word study 37 The [children of, descendants of] Reubenites built up [constructed, established, rebuilt] Heshbon [a city east of the Jordan River], Elealeh [a village of the Reubenites, God is ascending], Kiriathaim [two cities, a town in Naphtali], word study 38 as well as Nebo [a mountain in Moab, also a Babylonian deity] and Baal-meon [originally a town in Reuben] (whose names were changed), and Sibmah [a town in Moab, known for its fragrance]. And they renamed [to call by a new name, gave other names] the cities [excitement, a place with a wall or watchman] they rebuilt [to build, establish, or repair something]. word study 39 The descendants [sons, offspring] of Machir [an Israelite] son of Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob, ancestor of a large tribe] went to Gilead [a mountainous region east of the Jordan River], captured [took, seized] it, and drove out [dispossessed, took control of] the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan] who were there [living, dwelling]. word study 40 So Moses [the Israelite leader] gave Gilead [a mountainous region east of the Jordan River] to the clan [family or tribe] of Machir [an Israelite] son of Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob and ancestor of a large tribe], and they settled [dwelt, lived, or remained] there [in the region]. word study 41 Jair [son], a descendant of Manasseh [Moses’ grandson, ancestor of a large tribe], went [to walk, proceed] and captured [to seize, take control] their villages [small towns, tent villages] and called [to call out, name] them Havvoth-jair [villages of Jair, enlightened places]. word study 42 And Nobah [an Israelite conqueror] went [traveled, marched] and captured [seized, took control of] Kenath [a city east of the Jordan River] and its villages [surrounding towns, settlements] and called [named, designated] it Nobah [in his own honor], after his own name [his identity, reputation]. word study