Numbers 32:33 - Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to 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 its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.
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What does "Numbers 32:33" mean?
This verse from Numbers 32:33 summarizes the land allocation that Moses made to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (specifically, the half of the tribe that settled east of the Jordan River). Let's break it down:
"Moses gave to them...": This signifies the authority and responsibility Moses had in distributing the conquered lands among the Israelite tribes.
"...even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph...": These are the three tribes (or in Manasseh's case, half a tribe) who specifically requested to settle in the lands east of the Jordan River because it was good for their livestock. They had seen the fertile land and considered it suitable for their needs, prioritizing their pastoral lifestyle over settling in the Promised Land (Canaan) west of the Jordan.
"...the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan...": These are the two kingdoms that the Israelites had conquered prior to entering the Promised Land. Sihon ruled the Amorites south of Bashan, and Og ruled Bashan to the north. These were fertile lands east of the Jordan River.
"...the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.": This emphasizes that the entire territory of these kingdoms was given to the tribes, including all the cities within the territories and the surrounding regions. It suggests a complete and comprehensive transfer of ownership, not just specific plots of land. The phrase "according to its cities and borders" also indicates that the land was given with defined boundaries, implying an organized and structured division.
In essence, the verse states that Moses granted the conquered lands of Sihon and Og, along with all their cities and territories, to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh. This fulfilled their request to settle east of the Jordan River, but it came with the condition that they assist the other tribes in conquering Canaan before settling down permanently (as detailed in the rest of Numbers 32).
Why is this important?
Fulfillment of a Promise (with conditions): The verse shows a partial fulfillment of the promise to give the Israelites land. However, it highlights the tension between immediate desires (settling in good pasture land) and the larger goal (conquering the Promised Land together).
Tribal Allocation: It marks a significant step in the division of land among the tribes, showing how some tribes prioritized their own needs/desires and how Moses/God accommodated those needs.
Historical Context: It provides historical context about the conquered kingdoms east of the Jordan and the initial Israelite presence in that region.
Foreshadowing: It also foreshadows some future problems, as these eastern tribes will sometimes be more vulnerable and disconnected from the rest of Israel, and their commitment to the religious center in Canaan will sometimes be questioned.
Numbers 32:33 - Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to 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 its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.
What does "Numbers 32:33" mean?
This verse from Numbers 32:33 summarizes the land allocation that Moses made to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (specifically, the half of the tribe that settled east of the Jordan River). Let's break it down:
"Moses gave to them...": This signifies the authority and responsibility Moses had in distributing the conquered lands among the Israelite tribes.
"...even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph...": These are the three tribes (or in Manasseh's case, half a tribe) who specifically requested to settle in the lands east of the Jordan River because it was good for their livestock. They had seen the fertile land and considered it suitable for their needs, prioritizing their pastoral lifestyle over settling in the Promised Land (Canaan) west of the Jordan.
"...the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan...": These are the two kingdoms that the Israelites had conquered prior to entering the Promised Land. Sihon ruled the Amorites south of Bashan, and Og ruled Bashan to the north. These were fertile lands east of the Jordan River.
"...the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.": This emphasizes that the entire territory of these kingdoms was given to the tribes, including all the cities within the territories and the surrounding regions. It suggests a complete and comprehensive transfer of ownership, not just specific plots of land. The phrase "according to its cities and borders" also indicates that the land was given with defined boundaries, implying an organized and structured division.
In essence, the verse states that Moses granted the conquered lands of Sihon and Og, along with all their cities and territories, to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh. This fulfilled their request to settle east of the Jordan River, but it came with the condition that they assist the other tribes in conquering Canaan before settling down permanently (as detailed in the rest of Numbers 32).
Why is this important?
Fulfillment of a Promise (with conditions): The verse shows a partial fulfillment of the promise to give the Israelites land. However, it highlights the tension between immediate desires (settling in good pasture land) and the larger goal (conquering the Promised Land together).
Tribal Allocation: It marks a significant step in the division of land among the tribes, showing how some tribes prioritized their own needs/desires and how Moses/God accommodated those needs.
Historical Context: It provides historical context about the conquered kingdoms east of the Jordan and the initial Israelite presence in that region.
Foreshadowing: It also foreshadows some future problems, as these eastern tribes will sometimes be more vulnerable and disconnected from the rest of Israel, and their commitment to the religious center in Canaan will sometimes be questioned.