The Tribes East of the Jordan
(Deuteronomy 3:12–22; Joshua 13:8–14)
Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock. Num 21:32Gen 13:10-11Gen 13:2Num 32:3Num 32:351Jn 2:162Sa 24:5Exo 12:38 So the Gadites and Reubenites came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, and said, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, 1 Nebo, and Beon, Isa 16:8-9Jer 48:34Jos 13:17Num 32:34-38Isa 15:2-4Isa 15:6Jdg 11:26Jer 48:2 which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, are suitable for livestock—and your servants have livestock.” Num 21:34Deu 2:24-35Num 21:24
“If we have found favor in your sight,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.” 1Sa 20:32Sa 14:22Deu 1:37Deu 3:25-26Est 5:2Gen 19:19Jer 31:2Jos 7:7
But Moses asked the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? 1Co 13:52Sa 11:11Php 2:4 Why are you discouraging the Israelites from crossing into the land that the LORD has given them? Act 21:13Deu 1:28Num 13:27Num 21:4Num 32:9 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to inspect the land. Deu 1:19-25Jos 14:6-7Num 13:2-26Num 14:2
For when your fathers went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land that the LORD had given them. Deu 1:24-28Num 13:23 So the anger of the LORD was kindled that day, and He swore an oath, saying, Num 14:11Deu 1:34-40Ezk 20:15Heb 3:8-19Num 14:21Num 14:23Num 14:29Psa 95:11 ‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— Num 14:28-30Num 14:24Num 26:2Deu 1:35Jos 14:8-9Deu 2:14-15Num 26:64-65 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’ Deu 1:36Num 14:24Num 14:30Jos 14:8-9Num 26:65 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in His sight was gone. 1Co 10:5Heb 3:16-19Num 14:33-35Deu 2:14-15Num 26:64-65Psa 78:33
Now behold, you, a brood of sinners, have risen up in place of your fathers to further stoke the burning anger of the LORD against Israel. Act 7:51-52Luk 11:48Mat 23:31-33Deu 1:34-35Ezk 20:21Ezr 10:10Ezr 9:13-14Gen 5:3 For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.” 1Co 8:11-122Ch 15:22Ch 7:19-22Deu 28:15-68Deu 30:17-19Jos 22:16-18Lev 26:14-18Mat 18:7
Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones. Gen 33:17Num 34:22 But we will arm ourselves and be ready 2to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our little ones will remain in the fortified cities for protection from the inhabitants of the land. Jos 4:12-13Deu 3:18-20Num 32:29-32 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has taken possession of his inheritance. Jos 22:1-5 Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.” Jos 13:81Ch 5:25-262Ki 10:32-332Ki 15:29Gen 13:10-12Gen 14:12Jos 1:14-15Jos 12:1-6
Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, Jos 4:12-13Deu 3:18-20Jos 1:13-15Jos 22:2-4 and if every one of your armed men crosses the Jordan before the LORD, until He has driven His enemies out before Him, then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will belong to you as a possession before the LORD. Jos 22:4Jos 22:9Deu 3:20Jos 1:15Jos 13:82Sa 3:28Deu 3:12-18Jos 10:30 But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out. Isa 59:12Pro 13:21Gen 44:16Psa 90:81Co 4:5Gen 4:7Rom 2:9Deu 28:15-68 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.” Num 32:16Num 30:2Num 32:34-42
The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “Your servants will do just as our lord commands. Jos 1:13-14 Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will remain here in the cities of Gilead. Jos 1:14 But your servants are equipped for war, and every man will cross over to the battle before the LORD, just as our lord says.” Jos 4:122Co 10:4-52Ti 4:7-8Eph 6:10-18Num 11:28Num 12:11Num 32:17Num 36:2
So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel. Jos 1:13 And Moses said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, with every man armed for battle before the LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then you are to give them the land of Gilead as a possession. But if they do not arm themselves and go across with you, then they must accept their possession among you in the land of Canaan.” Jos 22:19
The Gadites and Reubenites replied, “As the LORD has spoken to your servants, so we will do. We will cross over into the land of Canaan armed before the LORD, that we may have our inheritance on this side of the Jordan.”
So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them. Jos 12:6Deu 29:8Deu 3:12-17Jos 22:41Ch 12:311Ch 26:321Ch 5:18Deu 2:30-33
And the Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Deu 2:36Num 32:3Isa 17:2Num 21:20Num 33:45-46 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Num 32:1Num 32:3 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and they built folds for their flocks. Num 32:3
The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, Num 21:27Num 32:3Isa 15:4 as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. And they renamed the cities they rebuilt. Isa 46:1Num 32:3Exo 23:13Jos 23:7Gen 26:18Num 22:41Psa 16:4
The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. Gen 50:23Jos 17:1Num 26:29 So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there. Jos 17:1Deu 3:13-15Jos 13:29-31 Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair. 3 Deu 3:14Jdg 10:4Jos 13:301Ch 2:21-231Ki 4:13 And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah, after his own name. 2Sa 18:18Psa 49:11