Numbers-Chapter-32

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Numbers Chapter 32”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Numbers Chapter 32 presents a profound lesson in national unity and the dangers of self-interest. As the Israelites stand on the threshold of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad perceive a personal advantage in the fertile lands of the Transjordan. This chapter explores the delicate negotiation between Moses and these tribes, highlighting the principle that no part of the community can truly prosper if it abandons its brothers in their time of need. It sets a precedent for mutual responsibility (Areivut) that remains a cornerstone of Hebrew ethics.

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Let us read Numbers Chapter 32, verses 1 to 42: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below this chapter you will find my commentary for this study.

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 Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle, 2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying: 3 ‘Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Sebam, and Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land which יְהוָה - the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle’. 5 And they said: ‘If we have found favour in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; bring us not over the Jordan. 6 And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: ‘Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall ye sit here? 7 And wherefore will ye turn away the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which יְהוָה - the LORD hath given them? 8 Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they turned away the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which יְהוָה - the LORD had given them. 10 And יְהוָה - the LORD’s anger was kindled in that day, and He swore, saying: 11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed Me; 12 save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed יְהוָה - the LORD. 13 And יְהוָה - the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and He made them wander to and fro in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of יְהוָה - the LORD, was consumed. 14 And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, a brood of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of יְהוָה - the LORD toward Israel. 15 ‘For if ye turn away from after Him, He will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and so ye will destroy all this people’. 16 And they came near unto him, and said: ‘We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place; and our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan, and forward, because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of the Jordan eastward’.

20 And Moses said unto them: ‘If ye will do this thing: if ye will arm yourselves to go before יְהוָה - the LORD to the war, 21 and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before יְהוָה - the LORD, until He hath driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land be subdued before יְהוָה - the LORD, and ye return afterward; then ye shall be clear before יְהוָה - the LORD, and before Israel, and this land shall be unto you for a possession before יְהוָה - the LORD. 23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against יְהוָה - the LORD; and know ye your sin which will find you. 24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth’. 25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke unto Moses, saying: ‘Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but thy servants will pass over, every man that is armed for war, before יְהוָה - the LORD to battle, as my lord saith’. 28 So Moses gave charge concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel. 29 And Moses said unto them: ‘If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man that is armed to battle, before יְהוָה - the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you, then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession; 30 but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan’. 31 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying: ‘As יְהוָה - the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. 32 We will pass over armed before יְהוָה - the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan’. 33 And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto the half-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, according to the cities thereof with their borders, even the cities of the land round about. 34 And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer; 35 and Atroth-shophan, and Jazer, and Jogbehah; 36 and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran; fortified cities, and folds for sheep. 37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim; 38 and Nebo, and Baal-meon their names being changed and Sibmah; and gave their names unto the cities which they builded. 39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites that were therein. 40 And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. 41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the villages thereof, and called them Havvoth-jair. 42 And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name”.

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Introduction:

Below is my Commentary on Numbers Chapter 24:

Verses 1-5: (The Request for Convenience). The tribes of Reuben and Gad, possessing great multitudes of cattle, observe that the land of Jazer and Gilead is “a place for cattle”. Their request to stay on the eastern side of the Jordan reveals a focus on material prosperity and immediate comfort. While their assessment of the land’s utility is accurate, their initial proposal lacks a vision for the national mission. It serves as a reminder that we must always look beyond our personal “herds” to see the broader needs of our people.

Verses 6-15: (The Danger of Discouragement). Moses’ response is immediate and sharp: “Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall ye sit here?” He compares their request to the sin of the spies, warning that their refusal to cross the Jordan could discourage the rest of the nation and incite Divine anger. This section highlights the power of influence; our private choices are never truly private if they dampen the spirit or the resolve of the community. Unity is not just a sentiment; it is a functional requirement for the survival of the nation.

Verses 16-19: (The Pledge of Solidarity). The tribes respond by clarifying their intent: they will build folds for their cattle and cities for their little ones, but they themselves will go “armed as a vanguard” before the children of Israel until the land is conquered. This is a crucial turning point. They acknowledge that their right to settle in their chosen place is contingent upon their participation in the national struggle. They choose to put the needs of the nation before their own rest, transforming a selfish request into a commitment of bravery.

Verses 20-32: (The Conditions of the Covenant). Moses accepts their proposal but reinforces it with strict conditions. He emphasizes that they must cross “before the Eternal” to do battle. This language elevates the military campaign from a mere conquest to a sacred duty. The agreement reached here is a model of conflict resolution: through honest dialogue and a willingness to sacrifice for the common good, a potential schism is turned into a reinforced alliance.

Verses 33-42: (The Settlement and the Legacy). The chapter concludes with the distribution of the land to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. They begin the work of rebuilding and renaming the cities. The inclusion of Manasseh here, though they were not part of the initial request, suggests a strategic move to ensure a strong link remains between the tribes on both sides of the Jordan. This geographical expansion signifies that the spirit of Israel can dwell in many places, provided the hearts of the people remain bound to one another.

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My Closing Message:

The narrative of the Transjordan tribes teaches us that while we are permitted to seek personal success, that success is hollow if it comes at the expense of our collective duty. True “rest” and “inheritance” are only earned when we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow man in the pursuit of justice and the fulfillment of our mission. May we always have the clarity to see the needs of our brothers and the courage to lead the way in supporting them!

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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following through a number of our prophets...

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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