A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Numbers · Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXII.
Verſ. 1. WHen they ſaw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that behold the place was a place for cattel, &c.]
In theſe words we have the cauſe that moved the Reubenites and Gadites to deſire that they might dwell without Jordan. Jazer was a city taken awhile before from the Amorites, chap. 21. 32. and Gilead was alſo a mountain of the Amorites, which had many …ities, half whereof were given to the ſonnes of Gad, and the other half to the ſonnes of Manaſſeh, ſee verſ. 40. and Deut. 3. 12, 13. Both were full of rich paſture-grounds, and ſo the fitter for feeding cattel (whence it is that God promiſing to feed his people Iſrael▪ ſignifieth the goodneſſe of their paſture by comparing it to Baſhan and Gilead, Mich. 7. 14. Feed thy people with thy rod, the ſtock of thine heritage▪—Let them ſeed in Baſhan and Gilead as in the dayes of old▪ and Jer. 50. 19. I will bring Iſrael again to his habitation, and he ſhall feed on Carmel and Baſhan, and his ſoul ſhall be ſatisfied upon mount Epraim and Gilead) and therefore theſe tribes deſire this land for their portion, becauſe they had by farre the moſt cattel.
Verſ. 3. Ataroth▪ and D…bon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, &c.]
There was an Ataroth within the land of Canaan, Joſh. 16. 2, 7. but this was without Jordan. Nimrah here mentioned is called alſo Bethminrah, verſ. 36. and Nimrim, Eſa. 15. 6. and it was afterwards given to the ſonnes of Gad, Joſh. 13. 27. and ſo alſo Shebam is verſ. 28. of thi chapter call…d Shibmah, and Beon is called Baal-meon, and Jer. 48. 23. Bethmcon, and Joſh. 13. 17. Beth-Baalmeon.
Verſ. 4. Even the countrey which the Lord ſmote before the congregation of Iſrael, &c.]
The chief drift of theſe words is to perſwade Moſes to allot their habitation in this countrey, which they had already conquered, by alledging how convenient it would be for them in regard that they had the greateſt ſtore of cattel, and this was a countrey very fit for the keeping of cattel. But withall another thing there ſeems to be implyed in theſe words, the country which the Lord ſmote before the congregation of Iſrael, namely, that the Lord had deſtroyed the inhabitants of this countrey, that they might take it for a poſſeſſion, and that therefore it was to be eſteemed a part of the promiſed land, though it were not within Jordan; nor were they to be blamed for deſiring to have their portion there, the land being ſo fit and convenient for them. And indeed even this countrey without Jordan was the poſſeſſion of the Amorites; for Sihon was King of the Amorites, verſ▪ 33. and the land of the Amorites was promiſed to Abraham, Gen. 15. 16, 21.
Verſ. 5. If we have found grace in thy ſight, let this land be given unto thy ſervants for a poſſeſſion, and bring us not over Jordan.]
It may be that their firſt intention was, according as theſe words imply, and as Moſes underſtood them, to deſire that they might ſtay there where they were, though afterward upon Moſes diſpleaſure they offer more equall conditions: yet I rather think that their meaning was never other, then as afterward they explained themſelves, to wit, that they deſired to have the land without Jordan for their inheritance, and that they might not be carried over Jordan to be ſeated there, but that they never meant to forſake their brethren till they had alſo driven out the inhabitants of Canaan; and that firſt, becauſe this conceit of ſtaying behind was ſo unjuſt, that they could not but know that it would exceedingly enrage all the other tribes againſt them; and ſecondly, becauſe in their anſwer to Moſes, verſ. 10. they diſcovered ſo preſently how farre they were from deſiring to leave their brethren, and to ſtay behind them.
Verſ. 12. Save Caleb the ſonne of Jephunneh the Kenezite▪ &c.]
So called, becauſe he was of the poſterity of one Kenaz, of the tribe of Judah, 1. Chronicles 4. 13, 15.
Verſ. 16. And they came near unto him, and ſaid▪ … build ſheepfolds here for our catel, &c.]
If in their firſt requeſt made unto Moſes their deſire was that they might not go any further, but might ſtay where they were, it is moſt probable that, moved with that which Moſes had ſaid, and withall fearing le…t the other tribes ſhould be enraged againſt them, they withdrew themſelves to conſult about it, and then returned to proponnd theſe more equall conditions to him. But becauſe there is no mention made here of any ſuch adviſing together amongſt themſelves, but rather the words ſeem to imply that they did preſently addreſſe themſelves to make this reply, we may with better ground think (as is noted before upon verſ. 5.) that they never meant any ſuch thing in their former requeſt to Moſes; and therefore perceiving how farre he had miſtaken their words, they now preſently replyed more fully to make known to him what it was they deſired: It is true, ſay they, we meant to leave our cattel and our children behind us (and it will be no little eaſe to us in our marching forward that we are rid of ſo great an encumbrance) and to that end we purpoſe to build ſheepfolds here for our cattel, and cities for our little ones, that is, to repair and fortifie thoſe cities of the Amorites in this countrey which lie now ruinated; but for our ſelves, we purpoſe to go along with them, and never had any thought to ſtay behind.
Verſ. 17. But we our ſelves will go ready armed before the children of Iſrael, &c.]
That is, though we deſire to have this land aſſigned to us for our portion, and intend to leave our wives, children, and cattel here behind us, yet we our ſelves will go ready armed along with them, yea before the children of Iſrael, that is, ſo farre we are from ſhrinking away from our brethren, that being rid of our cattel and carriages we ſhall be ready, if it be thought fit, to go in the forefront, and to expoſe our ſelves to the greateſt danger. This is the full ſcope of this reply which the Reubenites and Gadites made to Moſes. Yet withall we muſt note, that though they tendred themſelves to go along with their brethren, yet their meaning was onelyonly, that ſo many of them ſhould go as ſhould be thought requiſite for their aid againſt the inhabitants of Canaan: for we cannot think but that they meant to leave garriſons behind them for the defence of their wives and children, and for the guarding of the countrey, in caſe any of the neighbouring nations ſhould invade the land when they were gone; and ſo we ſee they did, for Joſh. 4. 13. it is expreſſely ſaid, that there went of theſe tribes along over Jordan with their brethren onelyonly about fourty thouſand armed men, whereas in the tribe of Reuben alone there was above fourty thouſand fighting men, chap. 26. 7.
Verſ. 18. We will not return unto our houſes untill the children of Iſrael have inherited every man his inheritance.]
The performance whereof, ſee Joſh. 22. 3, 4.
Verſ. 19. For we will not inherit with them on yonder ſide Jordan, &c.]
This is another condition they propound, to wit, that if this may be granted them, they will not look after any ſhare in the land of Canaan, but reſt ſatisfied with the portion now allotted them here.
Verſ. 20. If ye will go armed before the Lord to warre, &c.]
Here Moſes, upon the conditions they had propounded, as he now underſtood them, grants them their deſire; and to make ſure that they did rightly underſtand one another, he repeats the conditions, If, ſaith he, ye will go armed before the Lord to war, that is, if you will go armed before the ark, the ſigne of Gods preſence, that ſo you may aid your brethren in their warres againſt the Canaanites, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, untill he hath driven out his enemies from before him, &c. that is, if all that go over Jordan will continue with your brethren untill they have ſubdued the land, and driven out the Lords and their enemies, then afterwards ye ſhall return, and this land ſhall be your poſſeſsion before the Lord, that is, ye may then ſafely come back again hither, and ſhall have, as ye deſire, this land for your lot and portion, and that with the Lords good liking and approbation. And indeed that Moſes made them not this anſwer without direction from the Lord, we may gather from thoſe words of his to the Reubenites and Gadites, Deut. 3. 18. The Lord your God hath given you this land to poſſeſſe it.
Verſ. 29. Then ye ſhall give them the land of Gilead for a poſſeſſion, &c.]
Gilead here is put for the whole countrey on that ſide Jordan.
Verſ. 33. And Moſes gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manaſſeh, &c.]
Some Expoſitours hold that this half of the tribe of Manaſſeh did at firſt joyn with the children of Reuben and Gad in ſuing for a portion in this land, though they were not expreſſed, verſ. 1. But becauſe there is no mention hitherto made of them, we may rather think that either the children of Reuben and Gad did not at firſt deſire all the land which they had conquered on that ſide Jordan to be given to them, and ſo their requeſt being granted them, the remainder of that land was given to half the tribe of Manaſſeh, who are here therefore joyned with the other two tribes; or elſe if at firſt the Reubenites and Gadites did deſire the whole land, yet when Moſes came to grant their requeſt, he reſerved a part of the land on that ſide Jordan for certain of the ſons of Manaſſeh, and that becauſe they by a particular expedition had vanquiſhed that part of the land, and had driven thence the Amorites, as is expreſſed verſ. 39.
Verſ. 34. And the children of Gad built Dibon, &c.]
See the note upon verſ. 16.
Verſ. 38. And Nebo, and Baal-meon, their names being changed.]
That is, amongſt other cities they built and repaired Nebo, and Baal-meon, & when they had finiſhed them they gave them new names; and it is not without probability thought that the reaſon why they gave theſe cities new names was, becauſe Baal and Nebo were names of their idol-gods (Bel boweth down, Nebo ſtoupeth, ſaith the prophet, Iſa. 46. 1.) and happely the rather, becauſe of that branch of Gods law, Exod. 23. 13. Make no mention of the names of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. It is true indeed that theſe cities are after this in other places of Sc…ipture called ſtill Nebo and Baal-meon; but we know that this is uſuall to call cities, whoſe names are changed, ſometimes by the new and ſometimes by their old names.
Verſ. 39. And the children of Machir the ſonne of Manaſſeh went to Gilead and took it, &c.]
This is here inſerted, to ſhew the reaſon why Moſes giveth part of this land to the tribe of Manaſſeh, who made no ſuit for it, as the Reubenites and Gadites did, to wit, becauſe it did in a manner belong to them, they having formerly wonne it with their ſwords.
Verſ. 40. And Moſes gave Gilead unto Machir, and he dwelt therein,]
That is, half mount Gilead; for the other half was given to the ſonnes of Reuben and Gad. Deut. 3. 12. 13. Half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and Gadites. And the rest of Gilead, and all Baſhan, being the kingdome of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manaſſeh.
Verſ. 41. And Jair the ſonne of Manaſſeh went and took the ſmall towns thereof, and called them Havoth-Jair.]
That this Jair was of the tribe of Judah, and onelyonly the ſonne of Machir, the ſonne of Manaſſeh, by his mother ſide, ſ…ems evident in 1. Chron. 2. 21. 22. And afterward Hezron went into the daughter of Machir, the f…ther of Gilead whom he married when he was threeſcore years old, and ſhe bare him Segub. And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead: but becauſe he joyned with thoſe of Manaſſeh in taking theſe villages, he is r…ckoned here the ſonne of Manaſſeh, as if he had been one of that tribe; yet there might be alſo a Jair of the tribe of Manaſſeh.