Numbers 32:16

Then the leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad said to Moses/me, “First we will build pens for our animals and build cities for our families here.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

In Context

15If you stop trusting him, he will cause you and all your fellow Israelis to stay longer in the desert, and he will get rid of all of you!”

17Then our families will live in strong cities with walls around them, and they will be safe from the people who live in this land. Then we will get ready to fight battles. We will help the other Israelis to get land on the other side of the river.

Read all of Numbers 32

Cross References

Genesis 33:17But instead of going to Seir, Jacob and his family went to a place called Succoth. There he built a house for himself and his family, and built shelters for his livestock. That is the reason they named the place Succoth, which means ‘shelters’.

Deuteronomy 3:19But your wives and children and your very numerous cattle must stay in the towns that I have allotted to you.

Matthew Henry on Numbers 32:2-16

The Request of the Reubenites. ( b. c. 1452.) 1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; 2 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, 3 Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, 4 Even the… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 32:16