📖 Numbers — Chapter 32 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
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 RJazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;
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,
Numbers 32:3 RAtaroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and TNimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and TShebam, and Nebo, and TBeon,
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:
Numbers 32:5 Wherefore, said they, Rif we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
Numbers 32:6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and Rshall ye sit here?
Numbers 32:7 And Rwherefore Tdiscourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?
Numbers 32:8 Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see 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.
Numbers 32:10 And the LORD’s anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,
Numbers 32:11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, Rfrom twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not Twholly followed me:
Numbers 32:12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: Rfor they have wholly followed the LORD.
Numbers 32:13 And the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them Rwander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
Numbers 32:14 And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, Ran increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.
Numbers 32:15 For Rif ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.
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:
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.
Numbers 32:18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.
Numbers 32:19 For Rwe will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.
Numbers 32:20 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,
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,
Numbers 32:22 And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward Rye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
Numbers 32:23 But Rif ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
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.
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.
Numbers 32:26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:
Numbers 32:27 But Rthy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.
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:
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:
Numbers 32:30 But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.
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.
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.
Numbers 32:33 And RMoses 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.
Numbers 32:34 And the children of Gad built RDibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,
Numbers 32:35 And Atroth, Shophan, and RTJaazer, and Jogbehah,
Numbers 32:36 And TBethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.
Numbers 32:37 And the children of Reuben built RHeshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,
Numbers 32:38 And RNebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and Tgave other names unto the cities which they builded.
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.
Numbers 32:40 And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.
Numbers 32:41 And RJair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.
Numbers 32:42 And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 32:1–15 — A Request East of Jordan
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Reuben and Gad, with many cattle, request the land suited to their herds instead of crossing Jordan for their possession. Moses warns them against discouraging the other tribes and recalls the earlier refusal that led to forty years in the wilderness.
Key Truth: Moses addresses the request in light of Israel's shared responsibility and earlier refusal.
Check What You Remember
1. Name both tribes making the initial request. (Numbers 32:1–2)
Find it in Numbers 32:1–2 (KJV).
2. What livestock did they have in great numbers? (Numbers 32:1)
Find it in Numbers 32:1 (KJV).
3. How many years of wandering did Moses recall? (Numbers 32:13)
Find it in Numbers 32:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 32:16–32 — A Commitment to Cross
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The tribes promise to build settlements for their families and cross armed with their brethren until the inheritance is secured. Moses states the condition for their eastern possession and warns that failure will be sin against the LORD. The agreement is communicated to Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads.
Key Truth: Their possession is tied to fulfilling the stated commitment to the other tribes.
Check What You Remember
1. What river were the men to cross armed? (Numbers 32:21)
Find it in Numbers 32:21 (KJV).
2. When did they promise to return home? (Numbers 32:18)
Find it in Numbers 32:18 (KJV).
3. What did Moses say would find them out if they failed? (Numbers 32:23)
Find it in Numbers 32:23 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 32:33–42 — The Eastern Possessions
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Moses gives the recorded kingdoms and cities to Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh. The chapter lists rebuilt settlements and the places taken by Manasseh's descendants. These are the eastern possessions identified in the account.
Key Truth: The record names the tribal recipients and settlements of the eastern land.
Check What You Remember
1. Which half tribe received land with Gad and Reuben? (Numbers 32:33)
Find it in Numbers 32:33 (KJV).
2. Who had been king of the Amorites? (Numbers 32:33)
Find it in Numbers 32:33 (KJV).
3. Who had been king of Bashan? (Numbers 32:33)
Find it in Numbers 32:33 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why does Moses connect the request to remain east of Jordan with the earlier journey from Kadeshbarnea?
2. How does the tribes’ revised proposal answer Moses’ objection?
3. What condition separates the two inheritance outcomes in Moses’ instructions?
4. What does Moses’ warning show about the promise to assist the other tribes?
5. How does the final land grant broaden the initial request?
Notes
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