Numbers 32:1-5
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.
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