Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that it was because the Reubenites and Gadites (as noted in Numbers 32:16-33) agreed to fully participate along with the other ten tribes in the conquest of the land on the west side of the Jordan River until the heathen nations residing in the Promised Land had been fully defeated -- a promise to which Moses gave approval in Numbers 32:29.

July 24 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

God would allow it only if they held up their end of the bargain: Numbers 32:20-22 Moses said, “If you do what you say, take up arms before God for battle and together go across the Jordan ready, before God, to fight until God has cleaned his enemies out of the land, then when the land is secure you will have fulfilled your duty to God and Israel. Then this land will be yours to keep before God.

23-24 “But if you don’t do what you say, you will be sinning against God; you can be sure that your sin will track you down. So, go ahead. Build towns for your families and corrals for your livestock. Do what you said you’d do.” (Message Bible)

Moses’s initial displeasure faded after their strong promises, though he still suspected their motives and kept warning them. He made it clear that if they failed to keep their word, God’s judgment would fall on them. This sharp warning suggests real doubt about their honesty at first. Still, whether because of Moses’s firm stance or his strong words, their final reply showed they were now sincere. --Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown

5 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report