Numbers 32:36

_AND BETHNIMRAH, AND BETHHARAN, FENCED CITIES: AND FOLDS FOR SHEEP._ Beth-nimrah - now Nimrin....

28-42 Concerning the settlement of these tribes, observe, that they built the cities, that is, repaired them. They changed the names of them; probably they were idolatrous, therefore they should be forgotten. A spirit of selfishness, of seeking our own, not the things of Christ, when each one ought to assist others, is as dangerous as it is common. It is impossible to be sincere in the faith, sensible of the goodness of God, constrained by the love of Christ, sanctified by the power of the Holy Ghost, and yet be indifferent to the progress of religion, and the spiritual success of others, through love of ease, or fear of conflict. Let then your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven....

The cities here named fall into three groups. On Dibon, compare Numbers 21:19. The Moabite stone was discovered here in 1868. This city, occupied on the first acquisition of the territory by the Gadites, and assigned by Joshua to the Reubenites, was eventually recaptured by the Moabites, in whose hands it remained. Ataroth, i. e., “crowns” (Attarus?) was seven miles northwest of Dibon. Aroer (Arair) lay between Dibon and the Arnon. ATROTH, SHOPHAN - , was Atroth-Shophan, i. e., Atroth, or Ataroth of Shophan, or “of the burrow;” thus distinguished from the Ataroth named in the verse preceding from which it was probably not far distant. These four cities may be styled the Dibon settlement. Numbers 32:35...

EXPOSITION THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES BEYOND JORDAN (Numbers 32:1). NUMBERS 32:1 THE CHILDREN OF REUBEN AND THE CHILDREN OF GAD. Reuben and Gad had both been camped on the same (southern) side of the tabernacle, but had not apparently been neighbours, since Simeon intervened on the march (see on Numbers 2:10-4). Simeon, however, was at this time enfeebled and disgraced, and was not likely to assert himself in any way. The "great multitude of cattle" belonging to the two tribes probably point to pastoral habits of long standing, since the cattle o

AND BETHNIMRAH, AND BETHHARAN, FENCED CITIES,.... The first of these is the same with Nimrah, Numbers 32:3, and the other is the same with Betharam, Joshua 13:27, it is called in the Jerusalem Talmud r, Bethramtha, and so by the Syrians, Bethramphta; and to the same place Herod gave the name of Livias or Julias s: these cities the children of Gad built or repaired for their families: AND FOLDS FOR SHEEP; they also built for their cattle, as they promised to do, and Moses enjoined them, Numbers 32:16. r Sheviith, fol. 38. 4. s Vid. Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. par. 2. p. 643....

8. THE TRIBES OF REUBEN, GAD, HALF-MANASSEH AND THEIR PORTION CHAPTER 32 _ 1. The petition of Reuben and Gad (Numbers 32:1)_ 2. The rebuke by Moses (Numbers 32:6) 3. Their answer (Numbers 32:16) 4. Moses' reply (Numbers 32:20) 5. The final agreement (Numbers 32:25) Failure is now again manifested. Reuben and Gad looked upon the beautiful territory which had been taken from the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og. As Reuben and Gad were especially rich in cattle and the territory was one of great

A LIST OF TOWNS BUILT ( OR REBUILT) BY GAD AND REUBEN. The towns here assigned to Reuben form a group within the territory of Gad, for the most northerly and the most southerly of the places named are Gadite: contrast Joshua 13:15. The rebuilding of the towns must be regarded as effected after the two tribes returned from the conquest of W. Canaan. NUMBERS 32:34. DIBON: the modern Dhî ban. ATAROTH: Attarû s, 9 miles NW. of Dibon. AROER: probably the place of that name on the Arnon (Joshua 13:16). Numbers 32:35. Atroth Shaphan: unknown. JOGBEHAH: the modern Ajbehâ t.

Many of these towns have been identified with some probability. But the list represents a tradition very different from that in Joshua 13:15-28 (P), and must be ultimately derived from an earlier source, though in its present form it was probably written by a priestly writer. In Joshua 13:15-28 Reuben occupies the position which is ordinarily represented on modern maps, on the south of Gad, the dividing line between them running east from about the northern point of the Dead Sea. But in the present passage Reuben's position is not so independent. Five of the six towns assigned to them in Numbers 32:37 are situated in a district about midway between the Jabbok and the Arnon, and lie _between_Gadite towns to t

I. CITIES BUILT OR TAKEN IN THE LAND vv. 34-42 TEXT Numbers 32:34. And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, 35. And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, 36. And Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fenced cities; and folds for sheep. 37. And the children of Reuben built Hesbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, 38. And Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other 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 Amorite which was in it. 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 small towns thereof, and called them Havorth-jair. 42. And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name. PARAPHRASE...

ALLOTMENT OF TERRITORY TO THE TRIBES OF GAD AND REUBEN AND THE HALFTRIBE OF MANASSEH 1-5. The tribes of Reuben and Gad request that the land of Gilead lying on the E. side of the Jordan be assigned to them, on the ground that it is very fertile and therefore particularly well adapted to their large flocks and herds. These two tribes were associated as neighbours in the camp and on the march (Numbers 2:10), hence their desire to be settled near each other....