Numbers 32

All 42 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

Read Numbers 32 in the Bible reader, with audio →

1. 1The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned enormous herds of livestock. When they saw the lands of Jazer and Gilead, they realized it was perfect country for raising cattle.
2. 2So the people of Gad and Reuben came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community and said,
3. 3"Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon—
4. 4this whole region that the LORD conquered for the people of Israel—it's ideal land for livestock. And your servants have livestock."
5. 5They continued, "If we've found favor with you, give this land to us as our permanent territory. Don't make us cross the Jordan."
6. 6Moses replied to the tribes of Gad and Reuben, "Are you really going to sit here while the rest of your brothers go off to war?
7. 7Why would you discourage the people of Israel from crossing into the land the LORD has given them?
8. 8This is exactly what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to scout out the land.
9. 9They went up to the valley of Eshcol, saw the land, and then crushed the people's courage so they refused to enter the land the LORD had given them.
10. 10The LORD's anger burned that day, and he swore an oath:
11. 11'Not a single man who came out of Egypt, 20 years old or older, will ever see the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—because they did not follow me wholeheartedly.
12. 12The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenezite and Joshua son of Nun, because they followed the LORD completely.'
13. 13The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the entire generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was consumed.
14. 14"Now look at you! You've risen up in your fathers' place—another crop of sinful men—only to stoke the LORD's fierce anger against Israel even more.
15. 15If you turn away from following him, he'll abandon this people in the wilderness again, and you will be the ones who destroyed them all."
16. 16They stepped forward and said, "We'll build stone pens here for our livestock and fortified cities for our families.
17. 17But we ourselves will go armed before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place, and our little ones will dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18. 18We won't go home until every Israelite has received their inheritance.
19. 19We won't claim any inheritance with them on the west side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has already been given to us here on the east side."
20. 20Moses said to them, "If you'll actually do this—if you'll arm yourselves and march before the LORD into war,
21. 21and if every one of your fighting men crosses the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven out his enemies,
22. 22and the land is fully conquered before the LORD—then afterward you may return, and you will be guiltless before the LORD and before Israel, and this land will be your possession before the LORD.
23. 23But if you don't follow through, you will have sinned against the LORD—and be sure your sin will find you out.
24. 24Go ahead and build cities for your families and pens for your flocks. But you must keep your word."
25. 25The tribes of Gad and Reuben answered Moses, "Your servants will do exactly as our lord commands.
26. 26Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will remain here in the cities of Gilead.
27. 27But every one of your servants who can fight will cross over and go to battle before the LORD, just as our lord has said."
28. 28So Moses gave instructions about them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders of Israel.
29. 29Moses told them, "If the men of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan with you—every man armed for battle before the LORD—and the land is conquered, then you must give them the land of Gilead as their territory.
30. 30But if they don't cross over armed with you, they'll receive their territory among you in the land of Canaan instead."
31. 31The tribes of Gad and Reuben answered, "Whatever the LORD has told your servants, that's what we'll do.
32. 32We will cross over armed before the LORD into Canaan, and our inherited territory will remain ours here on the east side of the Jordan."
33. 33So Moses gave the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the entire land with all its cities and the surrounding territory.
34. 34And the children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, and Aroer,
35. 35Atroth, Shophan, Jaazer, Jogbehah,
36. 36Bethnimrah, and Bethharan as fortified cities, and they built pens for their sheep.
37. 37The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,
38. 38Nebo, and Baalmeon (whose names were changed), and Shibmah. They renamed the cities they rebuilt.
39. 39The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh marched into Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites living there.
40. 40Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and his clan settled there.
41. 41Jair, the son of Manasseh, captured the small towns there and named them Havothjair.
42. 42Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding villages and renamed it Nobah, after himself.