The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 87
SECT. LXXXVII.
THe Rubenites and Gadites now petition Moſes to give them their Poſſeſſion on this ſide Jordan, in the Land already Conquered, (which the Lord ſmote before the Congregation of the Children of Iſrael, according to the Promiſe made to Abraham, Gen. 15.21.) alleding how convenient it would be for them, in regard it was a Country very fit for the keeping of Cattel, whereof they had the greateſt ſtore. Moſes not apprehending (as it ſeems) their drift (which was plain and honeſt) accuſes them of great injuſtice, that they ſhould deſire to injoy peaceable Poſſeſſions at preſent, whilſt their Brethren muſt fight for theirs, which would in all likelihood tend to diſcourage the hearts of the people from going over into the Land which the Lord had given them. And herein he tells them, They would be like the Spies *See Ch. 13.24.their Anceſtors, who brought up an evil Report on this good Land, and ſo diſheartened the people, that the Lords anger was kindled againſt them for it. And if you ſhould do thus (ſays he) you will ſhew that you are riſen up in your Fathers ſtead an increaſe of ſinful men to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward Iſrael. And aſſure your ſelves, if ye turn away from following the Lord, He will leave Iſrael yet to wander in this Wilderneſs, as their Fathers did, until they all be conſumed; And by this means you will occaſion them to ſin, and ſo to be deſtroyed. The Reubenites and Gadites humbly reply, That it was far from their thoughts to deſert their Brethren on this occaſion. 'Tis true (ſay they) we meant to leave our Cattel, our Wives and Children behind us, and to that end we purpoſed to build Sheepfolds here for our Cattel, and Cities for our Wives and little Ones; that is, to repair and fortifie thoſe Cities of the Amorites in this Country which lie now ruinated. But for our ſelves, we are ready to go arm'd along with our Brethren, yea before them, and if it be thought fit to go in the forefront, and to expoſe our ſelves to the greateſt danger. But when they ſay they were ready to go along with their Brethren, we muſt underſtand it ſo, that their meaning was only that ſo many of them ſhould go as ſhould be thought requiſite for the Aid of their Brethren againſt the Inhabitants of Canaan. For 'tis plain they meant to leave Garriſons behind them for the defence of their Wives and Children, and for the guarding of the Country in caſe any of the neighbouring Nations ſhould invade the Land when they were gone. And therefore [Joſhua 4.13.] it is expreſly ſaid, That there went of thoſe Tribes along over Jordan, with their Brethren, only about forty thouſand armed men, whereas in the Tribe of Reuben alone there was above forty thouſand fighting men, ſee Ch. 26.7. Moſes tells them, That if they will go armed before the Lord to War; that is, before the Ark, the ſign of his Preſence, and ſo aid and aſſiſt their Brethren in their Wars againſt the Canaanites, and will continue with their Brethren till they have ſubdued the Land, then they ſhall have this Land on this ſide Jordan (as they deſire) for their lot and portion, ſee Deut. 3.18. But if they will not do ſo, he tells them, Behold ye have ſinned againſt the Lord, and be ſure your ſin will find you out. However (He acquaints them) that theſe two Tribes muſt not think to have all this Land to themſelves, but part of it muſt be reſerved for half the Tribe of Manaſſeh, and that becauſe they by a particular Expedition had vanquiſhed that part of the Land particularly. Iair had conquered Argob and the Towns belonging to it, and called it Baſhan-Havoth-Iair, after his own Name, as Nobah did Kenah, and called it alſo after his own Name, having driven from thence the Amorites, as is expreſs'd, verſ. 39.
Numb. 32. whole Chapter.