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Números 32

BLIVRE · Chapter 32/36

1E os filhos de Rúben e os filhos de Gade tinham uma muito grande abundância de gado; os quais vendo a terra de Jazer e de Gileade, pareceu-lhes a terra lugar de gado.

2E vieram os filhos de Gade e os filhos de Rúben, e falaram a Moisés, e a Eleazar o sacerdote, e aos príncipes da congregação, dizendo:

3Atarote, e Dibom, e Jazer, e Ninra, e Hesbom, e Eleale, e Sebã, e Nebo, e Beom,

4A terra que o SENHOR feriu diante da congregação de Israel, é terra de gado, e teus servos têm gado.

5Portanto, disseram, se achamos favor em teus olhos, seja dada esta terra a teus servos em herança, e não nos faças passar o Jordão.

6E respondeu Moisés aos filhos de Gade e aos filhos de Rúben: Virão vossos irmãos à guerra, e vós ficareis aqui?

7E por que desencorajais o ânimo dos filhos de Israel, para que não passem à terra que lhes deu o SENHOR?

8Assim fizeram vossos pais, quando os enviei desde Cades-Barneia para que vissem a terra.

9Que subiram até o vale de Escol, e depois que viram a terra, preocuparam o ânimo dos filhos de Israel, para que não viessem à terra que o SENHOR lhes havia dado.

10E o furor do SENHOR se acendeu então, e jurou dizendo:

11Os homens que subiram do Egito de vinte anos acima não verão a terra pela qual jurei a Abraão, Isaque, e Jacó, pois não me seguiram por completo;

12exceto Calebe, filho do quenezeu Jefoné, e Josué filho de Num, que seguiram por completo ao SENHOR.

13E o furor do SENHOR se acendeu em Israel, e os fez andar errantes quarenta anos pelo deserto, até que foi acabada toda aquela geração, que havia feito mal diante do SENHOR.

14E eis que vós sucedestes em lugar de vossos pais, descendência de homens pecadores, para acrescentar ainda à ira do SENHOR contra Israel.

15Se vos deixardes de segui-lo, ele voltará outra vez a deixar-vos no deserto, e destruireis a todo este povo.

16Então eles se achegaram a ele e disseram: Edificaremos aqui currais para nosso gado, e cidades para nossas crianças;

17E nós nos armaremos, e iremos com empenho diante dos filhos de Israel, até que os ponhamos em seu lugar; e nossas crianças ficarão em cidades fortes por causa dos moradores da terra.

18Não voltaremos a nossas casas até que os filhos de Israel possuam cada um sua herança.

19Porque não tomaremos herança com eles ao outro lado do Jordão nem adiante, porquanto teremos já nossa herança da outra parte do Jordão ao oriente.

20Então lhes respondeu Moisés: Se o fizerdes assim, se vos preparardes para ir diante do SENHOR à guerra,

21E passardes todos vós armados o Jordão diante do SENHOR, até que tenha expulsado a seus inimigos de diante de si,

22E seja aquela terra subjugada diante do SENHOR; logo voltareis, e sereis livres de culpa para com o SENHOR, e para com Israel; e esta terra será vossa em herança diante do SENHOR.

23Mas se assim não o fizerdes, eis que havereis pecado ao SENHOR; e sabei que vos alcançará vosso pecado.

24Edificai-vos cidades para vossas crianças, e currais para vossas ovelhas, e fazei o que saiu de vossa boca.

25E falaram os filhos de Gade e os filhos de Rúben a Moisés, dizendo: Teus servos farão como meu senhor mandou.

26Nossas crianças, nossas mulheres, nossos gados, e todos nossos animais, estarão aí nas cidades de Gileade;

27E teus servos, armados todos de guerra, passarão diante do SENHOR à guerra, da maneira que meu senhor disse.

28Então os encomendou Moisés a Eleazar o sacerdote, e a Josué filho de Num, e aos príncipes dos pais das tribos dos filhos de Israel.

29E disse-lhes Moisés: Se os filhos de Gade e os filhos de Rúben, passarem convosco o Jordão, todos armados para a guerra diante do SENHOR, logo que aquela terra for subjugada diante de vós, lhes dareis a terra de Gileade como propriedade;

30Mas se não passarem armados convosco, então terão propriedade entre vós na terra de Canaã.

31E os filhos de Gade e os filhos de Rúben responderam, dizendo: Faremos o que o SENHOR disse a teus servos.

32Nós passaremos armados diante do SENHOR à terra de Canaã, e a propriedade de nossa herança será desta parte do Jordão.

33Assim lhes deu Moisés aos filhos de Gade e aos filhos de Rúben, e à meia tribo de Manassés filho de José, o reino de Seom, rei amorreu, e o reino de Ogue, rei de Basã, a terra com suas cidades e termos, as cidades da terra em redor.

34E os filhos de Gade edificaram a Dibom, e a Atarote, e a Aroer,

35E a Atarote-Sofã, e a Jazer, e a Jogbeá,

36E a Bete-Ninra, e a Bete-Harã: cidades fortificadas, e também currais para ovelhas.

37E os filhos de Rúben edificaram a Hesbom, e a Eleale, e a Quiriataim,

38E a Nebo, e a Baal-Meom, (mudados os nomes), e a Sibma: e puseram nomes às cidades que edificaram.

39E os filhos de Maquir filho de Manassés foram a Gileade, e tomaram-na, e expulsaram aos amorreus que estavam nela.

40E Moisés deu Gileade a Maquir filho de Manassés, o qual habitou nela.

41Também Jair filho de Manassés foi e tomou suas aldeias, e pôs-lhes por nome Havote-Jair.

42Também Noba foi e tomou a Quenate e suas aldeias, e chamou-lhe Noba, conforme seu nome.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The tribes of Reuben and Gad, with large herds, ask to settle in the land already conquered east of the Jordan, instead of crossing into Canaan. Moses initially rebukes them harshly, but agrees when they promise to fight alongside their brothers until the promised land is completely conquered.

Explanation

Moses's strong reaction ('Why do you discourage the hearts of the children of Israel?') shows his immediate fear that this request would repeat the same cowardice of the spies decades earlier, which resulted in 40 years of discipline — he was determined not to let history repeat itself. The negotiated solution — Reuben and Gad receive the land they wanted, but with the formal commitment to fight alongside the other tribes until all were settled — shows a healthy balance between meeting legitimate needs (pastureland for the cattle) without compromising the community's collective responsibility. This agreement would later become a source of tension (Joshua 22), but at this moment it represents a mature resolution of a conflict of interests within God's people.

Fun facts

  • The half-tribe of Manasseh also joins Reuben and Gad in this territorial agreement, though it is only explicitly mentioned near the end of the chapter (v. 33) — showing that the biblical text sometimes introduces additional details progressively as the narrative unfolds.
  • Life east of the Jordan, geographically separated by the river from the other ten tribes, would be a permanent source of identity tension for these tribes throughout Israel's history, even contributing to conflicts recorded later in Joshua 22.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Números 32:1The tribes of Reuben and Gad had large herds, and when they saw the region of Jazer and Gilead, they realized it was ideal land for raising livestock.
  2. Números 32:2The leaders of these two tribes come before Moses, Eleazar, and the rest of the leaders of the congregation to make a specific request.
  3. Números 32:3They list a number of cities in the region, already conquered from the Amorites, including Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, and Heshbon, among others.
  4. Números 32:4Their argument is practical: that land, already taken by the LORD, was ideal for livestock, and they happened to have a great deal of livestock.
  5. Números 32:5The tribes of Reuben and Gad, who had large herds, see that the already conquered land east of the Jordan was good for grazing and ask to settle there instead of crossing the river into the promised land on the other side. Moses reacts badly at first, thinking they want to abandon the rest of the people before the final conquest.
  6. Números 32:6Moses reacts with suspicion, asking whether they intended to stay there while the rest of the people went to fight for the land on the other side of the Jordan.
  7. Números 32:7He fears that this request would discourage the rest of the people from crossing over and conquering the land God had promised.
  8. Números 32:8Moses compares the situation to what their fathers did decades earlier, at Kadesh-barnea, when they went to spy out the land.
  9. Números 32:9He recalls that, at the time, the fearful report brought back from the Valley of Eshcol discouraged the whole people from entering the promised land.
  10. Números 32:10Because of this, the LORD’s anger was kindled that very day, leading to a solemn oath against that generation.
  11. Números 32:11God swore that no man of that generation, twenty years old and up, would see the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they had not followed Him fully.
  12. Números 32:12The only exceptions were Caleb and Joshua, precisely because they had remained faithful to the LORD when the other spies hesitated.
  13. Números 32:13It was that same anger that made the people wander forty years in the wilderness, until that whole rebellious generation was gone.
  14. Números 32:14Moses accuses Reuben and Gad of repeating their fathers’ same mistake, further increasing the LORD’s anger against Israel.
  15. Números 32:15He warns that if they turn away from following God now, the whole people could end up abandoned in the wilderness once again because of it.
  16. Números 32:16The two tribes respond with a concrete proposal: they would build folds for their livestock and cities to protect their families right there.
  17. Números 32:17They commit to sending their armed men ahead of the rest of the people until the conquest is finished, leaving their families protected in fortified cities in the meantime.
  18. Números 32:18They guarantee they would not return to their homes before each of the other tribes had received its own inheritance of land.
  19. Números 32:19They make clear they did not intend to inherit land on the other side of the Jordan, since their portion would lie right here, on the east side.
  20. Números 32:20Moses accepts the proposal, but with one clear condition: they would truly have to arm themselves for war before the LORD.
  21. Números 32:21Every armed man of these tribes was to cross the Jordan and fight until the enemies were driven out before the LORD.
  22. Números 32:22Only after the land was completely conquered could they return free of any guilt, and the land on this side would officially become their possession.
  23. Números 32:23Moses accepts the request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, but with one clear condition: their men must cross the Jordan and fight alongside the other tribes before returning to their own land. This line is the warning that, if they failed to keep their word, it would have real consequences — it is not a general statement, but one tied directly to this specific agreement.
  24. Números 32:24Moses authorizes them to go ahead and build the cities for their families and the folds for their flocks, as long as they later kept what they had promised.
  25. Números 32:25Gad and Reuben answer, confirming the commitment: they will do exactly as Moses commands.
  26. Números 32:26Their families, flocks, and all their possessions would stay in the cities of Gilead while the men fought on the other side.
  27. Números 32:27The armed men would cross the Jordan to fight alongside the other tribes, exactly as Moses had determined.
  28. Números 32:28Moses formalizes this agreement, passing the specific instructions on to Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders of the rest of the tribes.
  29. Números 32:29The condition is officially recorded: if Gad and Reuben truly crossed over armed and helped conquer the land, they would receive Gilead as their inheritance.
  30. Números 32:30Otherwise, if they failed to do their part, they would have to settle like the rest of the people, within the land of Canaan itself.
  31. Números 32:31Gad and Reuben reaffirm the commitment: they would do exactly what the LORD had determined through Moses.
  32. Números 32:32They confirm they would cross over armed into Canaan, while keeping their inheritance already secured on this side of the Jordan.
  33. Números 32:33Moses then hands over to Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh the already conquered territories of Sihon and Og, with all their cities.
  34. Números 32:34The children of Gad rebuild and fortify cities such as Dibon, Ataroth, and Aroer.
  35. Números 32:35These cities lie in Gilead, east of the Jordan, rebuilt by the tribe of Gad after the conquest — territory the Gadites chose because it had good pastures for their livestock.
  36. Números 32:36They also complete Beth-nimrah and Beth-haran, fortified cities, along with folds for their flocks.
  37. Números 32:37The children of Reuben, for their part, rebuild Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kirjathaim.
  38. Números 32:38They also rebuild Nebo and Baal-meon, changing the names of these cities, along with Shibmah — a way of erasing associations with the old local gods.
  39. Números 32:39The descendants of Machir, of the tribe of Manasseh, go to Gilead, conquer the region, and drive out the Amorites still living there.
  40. Números 32:40Moses officially hands Gilead over to Machir, who then settles in that land.
  41. Números 32:41Jair, another descendant of Manasseh, conquers villages in the region and names them after himself, Havoth-jair.
  42. Números 32:42Finally, Nobah conquers the city of Kenath and its villages, and also gives it his own name, calling it Nobah.

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