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Numbers 32 – Verses from Numbers 32 from the book of Numbers in the Bible.
1 The tribes of Reuben and Gad, owners of numerous herds, saw that the lands of Jazar and Gilead were suitable for raising cattle.
2 So they went to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the community, and said:
3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazar, Nimrah, Heshbon, Eleale, Sheban, Nebo and Beon,
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4 lands that the Lord subdued before the community of Israel are suitable for raising cattle, and his servants have cattle.”
5 And they added: “If we can count on your favor, let this land be given to these servants of yours as our inheritance. Don’t make us cross the Jordan.”
6 Moses answered the men of Gad and Reuben, “And will your countrymen go to war while you remain here?
7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from entering the land the Lord gave them?
8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-Barnea to see the land.
9 After going up to the Valley of Eshcol and examining the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them.
10 The Lord's anger was kindled that day, and he swore this oath:
11 'Because they did not follow me with an upright heart, none of the men from twenty years old and above who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, they followed the Lord with integrity of heart.'
13 The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the entire generation of those who had displeased him with their evil behavior had passed away.
14 “And there you are, race of sinners, putting yourselves in the place of your ancestors and further kindling the wrath of the Lord against Israel.
15 If you stop following him, he will abandon you again in the desert, and you will be the reason for the destruction of all these people.”
16 Then they came to him and said: “We would like to build pens here for our cattle and cities for our wives and children.
17 But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have taken them to their place. Meanwhile, our women and children will live in fortified cities to protect themselves from the inhabitants of the land.
18 We will not return to our homes until all Israelites receive their inheritance.
19 We will receive no inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, since our inheritance is given to us on the east side of the Jordan.”
20 Moses said to them, “If you do this, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for war,
21 and if, armed, you all cross the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven out his enemies from before him,
22 then, when the land is subdued before the Lord, you will be able to return and you will be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be yours before the Lord.
23 “But if you do not do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and be assured that you will not escape the sin you have committed.
24 Build cities for your women and children, and folds for your flocks, but do what you promised.”
25 Then the men of Gad and Reuben said to Moses, “We, your servants, will do as my lord commands.
26 Our children and wives, all our livestock will remain here in the cities of Gilead.
27 But his servants, every man armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord, just as my lord says.”
28 Moses gave the following instructions concerning them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of families of the Israelite tribes:
29 “If the men of Gad and Reuben, all of them armed for battle, cross the Jordan with you before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you, give the land of Gilead to them as their possession.
30 But if they do not cross armed with you, you will have to accept their property with you in Canaan.”
31 The men of Gad and Reuben replied, “Your servants will do as the Lord has said.
32 We will cross the Jordan before the Lord and enter Canaan armed, but the property we will inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.”
33 Then Moses gave to the tribes of Gad and Reuben and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, all the land with its cities and the territory around them.
34 The tribe of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35 Atarote-Couch, Jazar, Jogbeah,
36 Beth-Nimrah and Beth-Haran were fortified cities, and he made pens for their flocks.
37 And the tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,
38 as well as Nebo and Baal-meom (these names have been changed) and Shibmah. And he gave these cities other names.
39 The descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, went to Gilead, took possession of it, and expelled the Amorites who were there.
40 Then Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, descendants of Manasseh, and they lived there.
41 Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, conquered their towns and called them Havoth-Jair.
42 And Noba conquered Kenath and her towns, and called her Noba, according to her name.
