Reuben and Gad Settle in Gilead.Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had very large herds of cattle, and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead [on the east side of the Jordan River], and indeed, the place was suitable for raising livestock. Num 32:1

The Experiences in the Wilderness

II. FROM SINAI TO THE JORDAN, Numbers 10:11-22:1
6. Division of the Land; Aaron’s Death; Levitical Cities; Cities of Refuge, Num_32:1-42 ; Num_33:1-56; Num_34:1-29; Num_35:1-34

43. Why did Reuben and Gad ask for their inheritance east of the Jordan, and why did Moses oppose it?

Numbers 32:1-19

REUBEN AND GAD SETTLE IN GILEAD

Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had very large herds of cattle, and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead [on the east side of the Jordan River], and indeed, the place was suitable for raising livestock.

So the sons of Gad and of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying,

“[The country around] Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

the land which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land [suitable] for livestock, and your servants have [very large herds of] livestock.”

They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan [River].”

But Moses said to the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?

Now why are you discouraging the hearts of the Israelites from crossing over into the land which the LORD has given them?

This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land!

For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

And the LORD’S anger was kindled on that day and He swore an oath, saying,

‘None of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not followed Me completely,

except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have followed the LORD completely.’

So the LORD’S anger was kindled against the sons of Israel (Jacob) and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the LORD was destroyed.

Now look, you [the tribes of Reuben and Gad] have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel.

For if you turn back from following Him [completely], He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.”

But the people of Reuben and Gad approached Moses and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and [walled] cities for our children,

but we will be armed and ready to go to war before the [other tribes of the] Israelites, until we have brought them to their place, while our children live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

We will not return to our homes until every one of the [other] sons of Israel has taken possession of his inheritance.

For we will not inherit with them on the west side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan [River] toward the east.”

Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Numbers 32:1-19

SEEKING INHERITANCE BEYOND JORDAN

Reuben and Gad were contiguous to each other when the host encamped. They had, therefore, many opportunities for conference, and finally united in asking permission to settle on the east of Jordan, where vast tracks of pasturage were eminently suited to their flocks. They have been held up as types of those whose “much cattle” hinder the realization to the full of the heavenly inheritance. Certainly many professing Christians live on the world’s side of the Cross. They have no desire to share in the crucifixion of the self-life, if only they may build sheepcotes and cities and provide for their little ones. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than….”

At first Moses was indignant at the request, thinking that they desired to evade the hardships, but their explanation modified his wrath. Be swift to hear, slow to speak!

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REUBEN AND GAD SETTLE IN GILEAD