Num 32:1-32 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 32:1-5: 32:1-5 From the time that Israel occupied the central part of the area east of the Jordan—during the military encounters described in ch 21 —Israel had been preparing to invade Canaan. At a moment when the Hebrews needed to safeguard their unity, two tribes asked to settle east of the Jordan River. 32:1 vast numbers of livestock: The Israelites had flocks and herds when they left Egypt (cp. Exod 12:38 ); they acquired many more animals as loot in the war with Midian (cp. Num 31:32-33 ) and perhaps in their victories over Sihon and Og (21:21-35 ). • Gilead can refer either to the whole northern region of the plateau east of the Jordan (e.g., 32:29 ) or only to the part of that territory between the Jabbok and the Arnon.

Summary for Num 32:1-5: 32:1-5 ^a From the time that Israel occupied the central part of the area east of the Jordan—during the military encounters described in ch 21 ^b—Israel had been preparing to invade Canaan. At a moment when the Hebrews needed to safeguard their unity, two tribes asked to settle east of the Jordan River. 32:1 ^c vast numbers of livestock: The Israelites had flocks and herds when they left Egypt (cp. Exod 12:38 ^d); they acquired many more animals as loot in the war with Midian (cp. Num 31:32-33 ^e) and perhaps in their victories over Sihon and Og (21:21-35 ^f).

• Gilead can refer either to the whole northern region of the plateau east of the Jordan (e.g., 32:29 ^g) or only to the part of that territory between the Jabbok and the Arnon.
32:3 ^h Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh settled in the land that Israel had recently captured from Sihon the Amorite and Og of Bashan (cp. 21:21-35 ⁱ).

• Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, and Elealeh have been linked with archaeological sites.

• The location of Sibmah is unknown.

• Though the location of a town called Nebo is unknown, it was certainly near a mountain or ridge of that same name, which was located along the escarpment that rises above the northern end of the Dead Sea.

• The site named Beon is almost certainly the place called “Baal-meon” in 32:38 ^j, which probably corresponds to the ruins at Ma’in.
Summary for Num 32:6-15: 32:6-15 ^k Moses assumed that Reuben and Gad wanted to stay east of the Jordan River to avoid the dangers that awaited the other tribes in Canaan (cp. chs 13–14 ^l).
32:12 ^m Caleb is identified as a Kenizzite, a descendant of Esau (cp. Gen 36:10-11 ⁿ). Apparently Caleb was not a native Israelite, but a convert who was so thoroughly integrated into the life and faith of Israel that he was called upon to represent the tribe of Judah when the twelve scouts were sent out to survey the Promised Land (Num 13:6 ^o).
Summary for Num 32:16-19: 32:16-19 ^p The Reubenites and Gadites assured Moses that they would not discourage their fellow Israelites and would support the war to its very end. There were still dangers east of the Jordan River, so they wanted to safeguard their livestock and families.
Summary for Num 32:20-24: 32:20-24 ^q Moses accepted the terms offered by Reuben and Gad. If they joined their kindred in fighting the Canaanites, they would fulfill their end of the agreement and could then return to their settlements east of the Jordan (32:22 ^r). If they failed to keep their promise, it would be a serious sin against God (32:23 ^s).
Summary for Num 32:25-27: 32:25-27 ^t Reuben and Gad did in fact fulfill the agreement (Josh 4:12-13 ^u; 22:1-9 ^v).
Summary for Num 32:28-30: 32:28-30 ^w Israel’s leaders—Eleazar, Joshua, and the heads of clans—would help enforce Moses’ terms (cp. Josh 22:1-2 ^x) since his death was imminent.
Summary for Num 32:31-32: 32:31-32 ^y Gad and Reuben reaffirmed their pledge before all of Israel’s leaders.