NUMBERS LESSON 40
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 32:1 "Now the children of
Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle:
and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that,
behold, the place [was] a place for cattle;"
It appears, the cattle that Reuben and Gad had accumulated were
in addition to the few they received from the battle with the
Midianites. It, also, appears they found the land, here, to be a
wonderful place for their cattle, sheep, and other animals. The land
was fertile and the water was plentiful enough to produce grass for
the animals. Gilead is a name that was given to a large portion of
land on this side of the Jordan.
Numbers 32:2 "The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came
and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes
of the congregation, saying,"
This would be something that would affect all 12 tribes. If they
started breaking up, they would be no stronger than the people around
them. All of the princes as well as Moses and Eleazar should have a
say in this.
Numbers 32:3 "Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and
Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,"
These places mentioned are in the south of Gilead. This is,
probably, where the cattle were already grazing.
Numbers 32:4 "[Even] the country which the LORD smote before the
congregation of Israel, [is] a land for cattle, and thy servants have
cattle:"
We saw in the last lesson, that this was true. The Midianites had
many animals. Since the land is such a good place to raise cattle, and
since they have many cattle, this would be the logical place for them
to live.
Numbers 32:5 "Wherefore, said they, 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."
They are saying, they are well pleased with this land, and will
not expect any of the land on the other side of the Jordan. They are
asking Moses, for God to give them this fertile grazing land.
Numbers 32:6 "And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the
children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit
here?"
It is not fair for them to inherit land, without going to war to
help their brothers take their land. Moses is showing them how wrong
that would be.
Numbers 32:7 "And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the
children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath
given them?"
This might even cause some of the other tribes to choose a plot
of land on this side, and not go into the land the LORD had promised
them. The other tribes might get the idea it would be too hard for the
tribes, split up, to take the land.
Numbers 32:8 "Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from
Kadesh-barnea to see the land."
Now, Moses tells them this is the attitude their fathers had. He
sent them to spy the promised land, and they came back, not wanting to
take the land.
Numbers 32:9 "For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol,
and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of
Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given
them."
They had come back with a bad report, and God caused them to
wander in the wilderness 40 years, because of their lack of faith.
Numbers 32:10 "And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time,
and he sware, saying,"
Moses is telling them, that this kind of attitude angers God.
Numbers 32:11 "Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt,
from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware
unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly
followed me:"
None of those who doubted would inherit the promised land. God
made them wander in the wilderness, until they all died off.
Numbers 32:12 "Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and
Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD."
Out of the 12 spies, there were only two who believed God would
help them take the land of promise. They both lived through the
wilderness wanderings, and will see the promised land. Their faith in
God brought them through. In fact, Joshua will take Moses place as
their leader. Joshua will lead them into the promised land.
Numbers 32:13 "And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel,
and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the
generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was
consumed."
All of the other men of the Israelites, who had been 20 years old
and older, died in the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Of
course, that did not include Moses.
Numbers 32:14 "And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers'
stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of
the LORD toward Israel."
Moses says, "You are making the same mistake as your fathers".
Numbers 32:15 "For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet
again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this
people."
Moses does not want to see the promised land lost to all of these
people, again.
Numbers 32:16 "And they came near unto him, and said, We will
build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:"
The sheepfolds were places of safety for the sheep at night.
They, also, want to build a safe place for their little ones to stay.
Numbers 32:17 "But we ourselves will go ready armed before the
children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and
our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the
inhabitants of the land."
They would leave their families, who were not able to go to war,
so someone would not come in and take their spot, while they were
gone. The men of age to fight, would go with the other tribes, and
fight to win their land for them. They were not afraid of battle, they
had just found a place to their liking.
Numbers 32:18 "We will not return unto our houses, until the
children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance."
They will stay and fight, until all the land is in the hands of
the Israelites that God had planned to have it. They will not quit and
go home, before the war is over.
Numbers 32:19 "For we will not inherit with them on yonder side
Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this
side Jordan eastward."
They are sure the inheritance God wanted for them was on this
side of the Jordan. They are satisfied with this land. They will not
ask for more land on the other side of the Jordan.
Numbers 32:20 "And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this
thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,"
The key to this is "if". Moses puts a condition on them receiving
the land they wish.
Numbers 32:21 "And will go all of you armed over Jordan before
the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,"
They are not to shirk their duties as one of the twelve tribes.
They are to fight with Israel. They are to help drive out the enemy.
Numbers 32:22 "And the land be subdued before the LORD: then
afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and
before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the
LORD."
If they do all the things Moses lined out for them, then they
shall inherit this land they want, and the LORD will not be angry with
them. They were not fearful. They just liked this particular plot of
land. There is no sin in that.
Numbers 32:23 "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned
against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
If they do not keep their bargain, they will be punished by the
LORD. He knows even the intents of our heart. He certainly knows our
deeds.
Numbers 32:24 "Build you cities for your little ones, and folds
for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth."
Moses gives them permission to build their folds for their
sheep, and their cities for their wives and children. He is the same
as saying, they have taken a vow with their mouth. They had better
keep it.
Numbers 32:25 "And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben
spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth."
The families of Reuben and Gad agreed to all of the terms Moses
set down.
Numbers 32:26 "Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all
our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:"
Their wives and children will stay with their flocks in the land
of Gilead, while they go to war.
Numbers 32:27 "But thy servants will pass over, every man armed
for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith."
All of the men 20 years old and older, who were able to go to
war, gathered their war gear, and went with the other tribes.
Numbers 32:28 "So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the
priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes
of the children of Israel:"
Moses knew before this all was completed, that he would die. He
would not cross over Jordan. He tells Eleazar and Joshua the
conditions of Gad and Reuben receiving the land on this side Jordan.
Numbers 32:29 "And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad
and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man
armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before
you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:"
This is the condition for them to receive the land.
Numbers 32:30 "But if they will not pass over with you armed,
they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan."
This is the condition for them not to receive the land they
wanted.
Numbers 32:31 "And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben
answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we
do."
The children of Gad and the children of Reuben were in total
agreement with the conditions.
Numbers 32:32 "We will pass over armed before the LORD into the
land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side
Jordan [may be] ours."
This is stated, again, as if they were swearing they would do
this.
Numbers 32:33 "And Moses gave unto them, [even] to the children
of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of
Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites,
and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities
thereof in the coasts, [even] the cities of the country round about."
It is very strange to me that the half tribe of Manasseh would be
included in this. They had not been involved in the negotiations. We
are not told for sure, just why the tribe of Manasseh was divided.
Perhaps, it was because they had increased greatly in size. It could,
also, have been because of some division in their ranks, that we are
not told of. This was a large area. Possibly, Reuben and Gad were not
large enough to take care of it all. For whatever reason, God gave
them this land of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan.
Numbers 32:34 "And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth,
and Aroer," Numbers 32:35 "And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and
Jogbehah," Numbers 32:36 "And Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fenced
cities: and folds for sheep."
We see from this, Gad built his own cities and his own
sheepfolds. He made a place to leave his family, while he went to war.
These were all cities of Gad, above.
Numbers 32:37 "And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and
Elealeh, and Kirjathaim," Numbers 32:38 "And Nebo, and Baal-meon,
(their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto
the cities which they builded."
It appears from this, that the children of Reuben took the ruins
left by the people conquered, and rebuilt their cities. They renamed
each of them. This was a separate area from Gad and Manasseh.
Numbers 32:39 "And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh
went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which [was]
in it."
This just quickly says, the Amorites were defeated and their land
given unto Machir, the son of Manasseh.
Numbers 32:40 "And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of
Manasseh; and he dwelt therein."
This area of Gilead is given to the family of Machir by Moses.
Numbers 32:41 "And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the
small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair."
Jair is another descendent of Manasseh. His family inherits the
small towns. Jair was, actually, one of the daughter's descendents.
Jair's mother was the granddaughter of Manasseh.
Numbers 32:42 "And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages
thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name."
There is no other record of Nobah. Some believe he is of the
family of Jair. He was included as part of Manasseh's family.
Numbers 40 Questions
1. Who of the tribes, had large herds of cattle?
2. What did they find pleasing about the land on this side the
Jordan?
3. Who did they speak to about the land?
4. What were the names of the places they were interested in?
5. What do they ask of Moses and Eleazar?
6. What question did Moses ask them?
7. What would this do to the other tribes?
8. Their attitude is like their __________.
9. What sin had their fathers committed?
10. What happened to their fathers?
11. Who were the only two of the twelve spies, who did not come back
with a bad report?
12. What happened to these two?
13. Why had they wandered in the wilderness 40 years?
14. What does Moses tell them they are doing?
15. What did they want to build, before they went to the war?
16. What are they willing to do, that would please God?
17. Do they ask for an inheritance on the other side of Jordan?
18. What is the key in Moses answer to them?
19. They are not to shirk their duties as one of the _______
_________.
20. If they keep their word, what reward do they get?
21. What happens to them, if they do not keep their word?
22. Quote Numbers chapter 32 verse 24.
23. What did Gad and Reuben agree to?
24. Who will stay with their flocks?
25. Who does Moses tell the agreement to?
26. Who is added to the agreement of the land on this side Jordan, in
verse 33?
27. Why do you suppose they were included in the deal?
28. What cities did Gad build?
29. What does it appear that Reuben did?
30. How did they acquire Manasseh's land?
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