2 Samuel 24:5

And they passed over Jordan,.... To take the number of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh first: and pitched in Aroer; for it seems that Joab and the captains had the army

And they passed over Jordan and pitched in Aroer on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that

They passed over Jordan; they began their computation in the eastern part of David’ s dominions, which were beyond Jordan. Pitched, or encamped. For Joab carried with them divers of his commanders, and others; partly, for his honour, and, the credit of the work; partly, to assist him in that troublesome work; and partly, to overcome the people, in case they should oppose it as sinful or burdensome, or savouring of some evil design which David might have upon them. Of the river of Gad, i. e. of the river which lay in the tribe of Gad, or upon the borders of Gad and Reuben, which was called Arnon, . Toward Jazer, or, near Jazer, which also was upon the river Arnon.

2 Samuel 24:5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:Ver. 5. And pitched in Aroer.] A city of the Gadites. Here they pitched with their bands and troops, probably to overawe the people, who might be ill-willing and discontented at such an unnecessary trouble and charge, especially if poll-money were now required of them; which kind of taxation being here in England first granted to Edward III, became a precedent for the next reign; and caused therein the first and greatest popular insurrection that ever was seen in this kingdom. Dan., Hist. of Eng.

(5) Pitched in Aroer.—The census began on the east of Jordan, at the extreme south, thence passed northwards through the eastern tribes, and crossing the Jordan, passed southwards through the western tribes. Aroer is the city described in Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 13:16 as on the river Arnon, at the extreme southern border of the trans-Jordanie territory. Of Gad.—This follows the Masoretic reading. It is better to put a period after the word river, and for “of Gad” to read “towards Gad.” Perhaps the words “and they came” (towards Gad) may have been lost from the text. Jazer.—A boundary city of Gad (Joshua 13:25). Thence they went to Gilead.

Verse 5. And pitched in Aroer] This was beyond Jordan, on the river Arnon, in the tribe of Gad: hence it appears, says Calmet, that they began their census with the most eastern parts of the country beyond Jordan.

5. in Aroer] This Aroer is generally thought to be Aroer near Rabbah in the tribe of Gad (Joshua 13:25): but since it is natural to suppose that the census began from the southern boundary of the Trans-Jordanic territory, which was the river Arnon, and since the city that is in the midst of the ravine is repeatedly mentioned in connexion with Aroer upon the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 13:9; Joshua 13:16; cp. Joshua 12:2) in describing the southern boundary of the tribe of Reuben, it seems far better to understand Aroer to be the Aroer on the Arnon. The site of Aroer on the Arnon is marked by the ruins of Ara’ar on the northern edge of the Wady Mojeb. This deep gorge in the level plateau is the ravine (E. V. river) of the Arnon. The latest explorer of Moab says: “Above the Roman bridge are some faint remains of early buildings; perhaps ‘the city that is in the midst of the river.’ At least it is scarcely possible that such exuberant vegetation, with perennial moisture, should have remained unappropriated in the time of Israel’s greatness; and whether the place so vaguely spoken of were above or below the fords;—‘cities’ or villages there were sure to be in the midst of the ‘river’ or wady.” Tristram’s Land of Moab, p. 128. on the right side] On the south, for the Hebrews reckoned the points of the compass facing the east. of Gad] If the view taken above with regard to Aroer is correct, of Gad must be separated from the river, and rendered towards Gad. Probably some such words as and they came have dropped out, as the preposition towards before Jazer requires a verb of motion. Indeed there are good reasons for supposing that the Heb. text is corrupt, and that we should read with some MSS. of the Sept.: “And they began from Aroer, and from the city which is in the midst of the ravine; and they came to Gad and towards Jazer.” Jazer] Or Jaazer, a city captured by Israel from the Amorites (Numbers 21:32), rebuilt by the tribe of Gad (Numbers 32:35; Joshua 13:25), allotted to the Levites (Joshua 21:39), subsequently Moabite (Isaiah 16:8-9), and recaptured by Judas Maccabaeus from the Ammonites (1Ma 5:6). Its site is probably to be placed at es Szîr, 7 miles W.S.W. of Ammân (Rabbah) and 9 miles N. of Heshbon.

Aroer - Aroer on the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36 note). Aroer itself stood on the very edge of the precipitous cliff of the valley; and in the valley beneath, possibly in an island in the stream, stood

5. Pitched in Aroer — Encamped and fixed their headquarters at this place. Aroer was a little east of the Jordan, and not far from Rabbah, probably at the modern Ayra. See on Joshua 13:25. River of Gad — Probably the wady Nimrin.