Numbers 32 2

Numbers 32:2 kjv

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,

Numbers 32:2 nkjv

the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying,

Numbers 32:2 niv

So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said,

Numbers 32:2 esv

So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation,

Numbers 32:2 nlt

they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the other leaders of the community. They said,

Numbers 32 verses

Numbers 32 2 Meaning

Numbers 32:2 describes the formal petition by the tribes of Reuben and Gad to the leadership of Israel. They approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal leaders, expressing their desire to settle in the newly conquered territory east of the Jordan River. Their reasoning was pragmatic: this land, including cities like Ataroth, Dibon, and Heshbon, which the LORD Himself had enabled Israel to defeat, was ideally suited for their vast livestock. Essentially, they saw this territory as an opportune and immediate fulfillment of their material needs, contrasting with the promised land of Canaan which lay across the Jordan.

Numbers 32 2 Context

Numbers chapter 32 is situated at a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, occurring at the plains of Moab, just before they are to cross the Jordan River and enter the promised land of Canaan. The nation has successfully conquered the Transjordanian kingdoms of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan (Numbers 21). This territory, east of the Jordan, was fertile and expansive. Verses 1 of this chapter sets the stage, revealing that the tribes of Reuben and Gad, possessing a "very great number of livestock," found this conquered land of Jazer and Gilead "suitable for livestock." Their direct request to the established leadership in verse 2 thus represents a crucial test of their commitment to the collective tribal mission of taking possession of the land explicitly promised by God on the other side of the Jordan. This moment foreshadows the potential for division and misunderstanding within the Israelite community, prompting a significant negotiation between Moses and these tribes that highlights themes of trust, responsibility, and unity in God's plan.

Numbers 32 2 Word analysis

• Then they came (וַיָּבֹאוּ – vayyavo'u): This verb in Hebrew, a Waw-consecutive perfect, denotes a direct, sequential action. "They" refers explicitly to the people of Reuben and Gad mentioned in Nu 32:1. Their direct approach signifies a formal, deliberate presentation of their request to the highest authorities.
• and spoke (וַיֹּאמְרוּ – vayyo'm'ru): Again, a Waw-consecutive perfect, indicating a direct speech. The act of speaking to such a high council elevates the gravity and formality of their proposal. It was not a casual conversation but a serious petition.
• to Moses: As the principal leader, lawgiver, and mediator of the covenant, Moses was the primary authority to whom such a significant request would be addressed.
• and to Eleazar the priest: Eleazar, the high priest, represented the divine presence, the will of God, and the sacred law. His inclusion in the address underscores the spiritual and covenantal implications of their request, beyond mere logistics.
• and to the leaders of the congregation (לְנְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה – l'nasi'ey ha'edah): This refers to the heads of the tribes and other prominent figures in the Israelite community. Addressing all three layers of leadership (supreme civil, supreme religious, and tribal representatives) demonstrates the comprehensive and official nature of the tribes' appeal, seeking communal endorsement for their desired settlement.
• saying: Introduces the content of their specific request and justification.
• The country (אֶרֶץ – erets): Refers to a definite territory or land. Here, it signifies the specific region they had recently helped conquer east of the Jordan.
• of Ataroth and Dibon and Jazer and Nimrah and Heshbon and Elealeh and Sebam and Nebo and Beon: This is a litany of specific cities and regions, all located in the fertile plains and uplands east of the Jordan, areas rich in pastureland. The precise naming reinforces their detailed knowledge and desire for this particular geography. It grounds their request in concrete geographical realities of the newly acquired territory.
• the land that the LORD struck down (אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יְהוָה – asher hikah YHWH): The verb "struck down" (נָגַף – nagaf) here implies a devastating, decisive blow, often used in a military context where God grants victory. This phrase acknowledges God's direct, powerful intervention in their recent conquests over Sihon and Og. They are not claiming personal might but attributing the victory to God. However, their immediate focus is on the material gain, implying a potentially limited perspective on God's larger covenantal purposes.
• before the congregation of Israel: This emphasizes that the victory was a communal effort and a divine act witnessed by all, making the land legally and divinely acquired.
• is a land for livestock (אֶרֶץ מִקְנֶה – erets mikneh): This is the core justification. "Livestock" (מִקְנֶה – mikneh) represents their wealth, livelihood, and identity. This statement succinctly argues that the land's quality perfectly matches their primary economic activity and abundance.
• and your servants have livestock: Reinforces their abundance and implies a pressing need for extensive grazing lands, appealing to the leaders from a practical standpoint. This declaration frames their request not as selfish ambition but as a sensible solution to managing their existing assets.

Numbers 32 2 Bonus section

This request by the Reubenites and Gadites, followed by the negotiation with Moses, is often studied as a profound example of navigating competing priorities. While securing one's livelihood (caring for livestock) is a biblical principle, doing so in a way that risks fragmenting communal purpose or showing reluctance towards a more difficult, divinely appointed task can be problematic. The explicit naming of multiple cities demonstrates not just a general interest in the land, but a precise, calculated desire for specific territories. This precision speaks to the tribes' pragmatic assessment of their immediate needs and the value they placed on this particular land for their pastoral economy. The challenge for these tribes, and indeed for Israel, was whether to prioritize this practical advantage or to press on collectively to the full, challenging, but covenantally promised inheritance of Canaan proper. Moses's initial reaction (Nu 32:6-15) shows his concern that their choice could replicate the faithlessness of the previous generation, warning that focusing on immediate comfort could jeopardize the larger mission of all Israel.

Numbers 32 2 Commentary

Numbers 32:2 records a critical moment where practical self-interest intersects with divine leading for the nation of Israel. The request from Reuben and Gad, articulated with respect to authority and an acknowledgment of God's hand in conquest, presents a pragmatic appeal: this newly conquered land east of the Jordan is ideally suited for their significant herds. While their assessment of the land's quality for livestock was accurate, and their appeal was formally structured, the subsequent verses will reveal Moses's immediate concern that this desire might stem from a short-sighted focus on immediate convenience over the full spiritual and national responsibility of entering the promised land across the Jordan. It highlights the recurring tension between worldly practicality and trust in God's specific, broader plan for His people. This petition implicitly tests the tribal unity and their faithfulness to the unique land inheritance designated by God, emphasizing that even legitimate needs must align with the larger divine purpose.