Chapter Thirty-Two

The settlement of the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh in the conquered territory of Sihon the Amorite and Og of Bashan.

Numbers 32:1. Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the place was a place for livestock; “The land of Jazer and the land of Gilead” is eastern Transjordan.

Numbers 32:3. Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, Cities of eastern Transjordan; among them, Dibon, Ataroth, and Nebo are mentioned, in particular, in the inscription of the Moabite king Mesha.

Numbers 32:34. And the children of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth, and Aroer, Numbers 32:35. And Atroth-Shophan, Jazer, and Jogbehah, Numbers 32:36. And Beth-Nimrah and Beth-Haran, fortified cities and folds for sheep. Numbers 32:37. And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kiriathaim, Numbers 32:38. And Nebo and Baal-Meon (with their names changed), and Sibmah; and they gave other names to the cities which they built. “Built,” more accurately—rebuilt, since most of these cities existed before the arrival of the Hebrews.

Numbers 32:39. And the children of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it; Numbers 32:40. And Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he settled in it. Numbers 32:41. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its towns, and called them Havoth-Jair. Numbers 32:42. And Nobah went and took Kenath and its dependent cities, and called it Nobah after his own name. For more details about the settlement of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh see Deut 3:12-20; Josh 13:8-12. Reuben and Gad occupied the south of eastern Transjordan; Manasseh occupied the north, with the descendants of Manasseh “the sons of Machir” established chiefly in Gilead, and “the sons of Jair” established chiefly in Bashan.