“Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,”
Saban, and Nebo. These towns were afterwards retaken by the Moabites, Isaias xv. 2, 8. — Beon. Perhaps the same with Mehon, or Beth Baal Mehon, Josue xiii. 17. (Calmet)
“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.”
Jordan. They are a figure of those who would possess heaven without labour. But none is crowned, except he strive lawfully, 2 Timothy ii. 5. (Worthington)
“And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? discourage: Heb. break”
Overturn. Hebrew nua, “to discourage,” (Haydock) break, dissolve, &c., ver. 9. (Menochius) — The same history is mentioned, (Deuteronomy iii. 12, 18,) but without these reproaches. (Calmet)
“Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: wholly: Heb. fulfilled after me”
If, &c. They shall not see Chanaan. (Menochius) — In Scripture, odious things are not fully expressed, particularly in oaths, Psalm lxxxviii. 36., and cxxxi. 2. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “surely none….shall see….because they have not perfectly followed me.” (Grotius) (Haydock)
“Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.”
Cenezite. His father was either called Cenez, or a part of the country of the Cenezites, being promised to Caleb at Cades-barne, he assumed his title, Josue xiv. 6.
“And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.”
Led, &c. Septuagint, “he rolled them over,” to denote their afflictions. (Haydock)
“For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.”
Of all. Hebrew, “if, or because you will not follow after him. He will stop them in the desert, and you will destroy all the people.” Septuagint, “because you will turn away from him, to abandon him again in the desert, and you will sin against all this congregation.” God had decreed that all should go together to the conquest of the promised land; so that, if these children of Ruben and of Gad should refuse to comply, Moses was afraid that all might be ruined. Perceiving that his discourse turned on this subject, they approached with greater confidence, and shewed their readiness to fight for their brethren. Upon which Moses was satisfied. (Haydock)
“But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.”
Cities, which in the space of two months they would repair sufficiently, so that their children might be protected against the Amorrhites, &c. They left strong garrisons very prudently, to keep possession of the conquered country: 70,580 remained in the cities; while 40,000 went before their brethren. See chap. xxvi. 7, 18., and Josue iv. 13.
“For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.”
Jordan. Hebrew adds, “or forward,” any where, in case fresh conquests be made. (Calmet)
“And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,”
Lord, or the ark, under the guidance and protection of God.
“And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,”
Man, that may be required: Josue only took 40,000 for the vanguard. (Haydock)
“And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.”
Ruben. No mention is made of those of the half tribe of Manasses. Perhaps they only joined the rest afterwards, chap. v. 33. They occupied the northern parts. (Haydock) — The Hebrew has here a solecism, “the sons of Gad he said;” to avoid which, Onkelos adds, the tribe, &c. (Houbigant)
“Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:”
Galaad. Only a small part of the territory properly went by that name, ver. 39. (Calmet)
“But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”
With you. Septuagint, “armed for war before the Lord; take by force their baggage, wives and cattle, before you, into Chanaan, and let them have shares with you in Chanaan.” (Haydock)
“And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,”
Built, or repaired; for they had been cities of the Amorrhites before. — Aroer was occupied by the Moabites after the Israelites were led into captivity, Jeremias xlviii. 1, 19.
“And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah,”
Sophan. Some believe that this is the same city with Etroth, and that it took its name from Saphon, the son of Gad, chap. xxvi. 15. — Jegbaa, perhaps the Beon, ver. 3. See Judges viii. 11.
“And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.”
Betharan, which Herod enlarged, and called Livias, south of Hesebon. (Calmet)
“And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded. gave: Heb. they called by names the names of the cities”
Nabo. Probably the same as Nebo and Nobe. — Baalmeon. This city had a variety of names, ver. 3, 35. Those who rebuilt these cities gave them their own names, ver. 42. (Hebrew Targum of Jerus.) Yet they were often known by their former appellations. (Calmet) — The rebuilders chiefly objected to the names of idols, Baal, &c., which were joined with these cities. (Menochius)
“And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.”
In it, by means of his descendants. For Machir must have been above 250 years old, if he were still alive. Many children are attributed to Machir and his father, Manasses, who were not their immediate offspring. The latter had only Machir, who survived him; Ezriel was probably a grandson of Machir, as he is styled the son of Galaad, chap. xxvi. 31., and Josue xvii. 2. See 1 Paralipomenon vii. Adoptive and legal children, are often confounded with those who are really born of a person, as also those places which are inhabited by his posterity. (Calmet)
“And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.”
Jair was born of Segub, the son of Esron, by a daughter of Machir, 1 Paralipomenon i. 21. He did not remain in the tribe of Juda, but dwelt in that of his mother, (Calmet) or perhaps he married a descendant of Machir, and obtained these villages. (Selden, Suc. c. xviii.) — Havoth, means “a circle of cabins or shepherds’ huts,” in Arabic. (Bochart)
“And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.”
Canath. This town is reckoned among those of Jair, (1 Paralipomenon ii. 23,) either because Nobe conquered it under his banners, or because it fell to the share of Jair, after the death of Nobe. (Calmet)