Numbers 32 5

Numbers 32:5 kjv

Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

Numbers 32:5 nkjv

Therefore they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan."

Numbers 32:5 niv

If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan."

Numbers 32:5 esv

And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan."

Numbers 32:5 nlt

If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River."

Numbers 32 verses

Numbers 32 5 Meaning

Numbers 32:5 presents the direct request of the Reubenites and Gadites to Moses, stating their desire to settle in the land east of the Jordan River. They expressed this request with the deferential phrase, "If we have found grace in thy sight," seeking approval for this specific region—Jazer and Gilead—to be given to them as a permanent inheritance. Crucially, they added the stipulation "bring us not over Jordan," indicating their strong preference to remain on the eastern side, contrasting with the divine command to inherit the land west of the Jordan.

Numbers 32 5 Context

Numbers chapter 32 finds the Israelites on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, at the culmination of their forty-year wilderness journey and on the brink of entering the Promised Land (Canaan). This generation, unlike their rebellious predecessors, is poised to cross the Jordan and conquer the land promised to Abraham. However, before the full invasion, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, possessing vast herds and flocks (Num 32:1), observed the rich pastoral lands of Jazer and Gilead in Transjordan. This region, having been recently conquered from Sihon and Og (Num 21), appeared ideal for their extensive livestock. Verse 5 encapsulates their direct appeal to Moses to forgo crossing the Jordan and settle immediately in this agriculturally fertile area. Moses’ initial reaction, detailed in the subsequent verses (Num 32:6-15), reveals deep apprehension, fearing that this request stemmed from a lack of faith, similar to the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea which had led to the forty-year wandering. He worried their reluctance to cross the Jordan would discourage the other tribes and jeopardize the unified conquest of Canaan. This verse thus marks a critical turning point, presenting a pragmatic tribal desire that challenged the overarching divine directive and raised questions of unity and obedience within the Israelite nation.

Numbers 32 5 Word analysis

• And they said: The request comes directly from the tribal representatives. It is a direct and somewhat assertive appeal, reflecting their specific need.
• If we have found grace: In Hebrew, "אִם־מָצָ֣אנוּ חֵ֑ן" (ʾim-māṣāʾnū ḥēn), meaning "if we have found favor/grace."
  • Grace/Favor (חֵן - chen): This is a common biblical expression, particularly in polite or deferential requests to superiors (e.g., Lot to angels in Gen 19:19, Joseph's brothers to Pharaoh's steward in Gen 43:29). It acknowledges Moses's authority and seeks his benevolent approval, indicating respect and submission to his leadership. However, it also suggests that they perceive their request as requiring special concession.
• in thy sight: Emphasizes the direct appeal to Moses's personal judgment and authority. They seek his specific and personal consent.
• let this land be given unto thy servants: A straightforward petition for ownership. The "this land" refers to the land of Jazer and Gilead, which they had just identified as suitable (Num 32:1).
  • Thy servants: Another term of humility and deference, recognizing their subservient role to Moses as leader chosen by God.
• for a possession (לַאֲחֻזָּ֖ה - laʾaḥuzzāh): Derived from "אֲחֻזָּה" (aḥuzzāh), meaning "possession, property, holding."
  • This term denotes a secure, permanent, and often inherited holding of land (e.g., Lev 25:10, Num 27:7). It signifies their intent for a lasting, fixed inheritance rather than a temporary encampment, contrasting sharply with the notion of future, full conquest of the Promised Land west of Jordan.
  • Its use highlights the economic and existential importance of land ownership in ancient Israelite society and signifies their desire for an immediate and stable home.
• and bring us not over Jordan: In Hebrew, "אַל־תַּעֲבִרֵ֥נוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן" (ʾal-taʿăvirēnū ʾeṯ-hayyardēn), literally "do not cause us to cross the Jordan."
  • Jordan: More than just a river, the Jordan symbolically marked the boundary between the wilderness and the full Promised Land of Canaan (Josh 1:2-4, Deut 1:7).
  • This phrase is the critical, defining point of their request. It explicitly states their desire to opt out of crossing into the primary, divinely promised inheritance west of the Jordan. It reflects a choice based on their immediate, pragmatic needs (their large herds) over the unified pursuit of the divinely ordained central inheritance. This line causes Moses significant concern about their commitment to the greater national and spiritual enterprise.

Numbers 32 5 Bonus section

The request from the Reubenites and Gadites, particularly their desire "not to cross Jordan," had significant long-term implications for these tribes. Geographically separated from the main body of Israel by the Jordan River, they would often face challenges related to defense and religious fidelity (e.g., Hos 12:11, where Gilead is associated with idolatry, though not specifically linked to the tribes' initial request). This highlights how a pragmatic, short-term decision, even if made with apparent good intent (to provide for their flocks), can set a trajectory for future vulnerabilities and spiritual divergence for generations to come. The compromise Moses reached with them, demanding their full participation in the conquest before settling (Num 32:16-32), underscored the necessity of prioritizing unity and the national covenantal mission even amidst differing practical needs.

Numbers 32 5 Commentary

Numbers 32:5 lays bare a tension between immediate, practical tribal needs and the overarching divine plan for the whole nation of Israel. The Reubenites and Gadites, witnessing the good pasture lands east of the Jordan, proposed an immediate settlement for their herds. While presented deferentially as seeking "grace" or favor, their specific condition "bring us not over Jordan" was the pivotal point of contention. This phrase revealed a desire to deviate from the collective mission of possessing the entirety of the Promised Land as promised by God, signaling a potential for disunity and a preference for convenience over full obedience to God's vision for the entire community. Moses's deep concern (evident in the following verses) stemmed from this apparent lack of commitment to the shared divine mandate and the dangerous historical precedent of prior faithless actions that led to long wilderness wanderings. The verse implicitly raises the question: Does a group's specific, pragmatic interest serve or undermine the larger, unified covenantal purpose given by God to the nation? It underscores the principle that personal comfort should not eclipse communal responsibility in pursuing God's call.