¹sn While the tribes are on the other side of Jordan, the matter of which tribes would settle there has to be discussed. This chapter begins the settlement of Israel into the tribal territories, something to be continued in Joshua. The chapter has the petitions (vv. 1-5), the response by Moses (vv. 6-15), the proposal (vv. 16-27), and the conclusion of the matter (vv. 28-42). For literature on this subject, both critical and conservative, see S. E. Loewenstein, “The Relation of the Settlement of Gad and Reuben in Numbers 32:1-38, Its Background and Its Composition,” Tarbiz 42 (1972): 12-26; J. Mauchline, “Gilead and Gilgal, Some Reflections on the Israelite Occupation of Palestine,” VT 6 (1956): 19-33; and A. Bergmann, “The Israelite Tribe of Half-Manasseh,” JPOS 16 (1936): 224-54.
²tn Heb “the place was a place of/for cattle.”
³tc SP and the Greek translation have Sibmah. Cf. v. 38.
⁴tn Cf. Baal-meon in v. 38.
⁵tn The verb is the Hiphil perfect of nakah (hkn), a term that can mean “smite, strike, attack, destroy.”
⁶tn Heb “eyes.”
⁷tn The verb is the Hiphil jussive from ‘abar (rbu), “to cross over.” The idea of “cause to cross” or “make us cross” might be too harsh; but “take across” with the rest of the nation is what they are trying to avoid.
⁸tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
⁹tn The vav is a vav disjunctive prefixed to the pronoun; it fits best here as a circumstantial clause, “while you stay here.”
¹⁰tn Heb “heart.” So also in v. 9.
¹¹tn The preterite with vav consecutive is here subordinated to the parallel yet chronologically later verb in the next clause.
¹²tn The infinitive construct here with lamed is functioning as a result clause.
¹³tn The Lord had not given it yet, but was going to give it. Hence, the perfect should be classified as a perfect of resolve.
¹⁴tn The clause is difficult; it means essentially that “they have not made full [their coming] after” the Lord.
¹⁵tn The sentence begins with “if they see….” This is the normal way for Hebrew to express a negative oath—they will by no means see…. The sentence as elliptical; it is saying something like “[May God do so to me] if they see,” meaning they won’t see. Of course here God is taking the oath, which is an anthropomorphic act. He does not need to take an oath, and certainly could not swear by anyone greater; but it communicates to people his resolve.
¹⁶tc The Greek translation adds “those knowing bad and good.”
¹⁷tn The words “to give” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
¹⁸tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
¹⁹tn The verb is a little difficult to translate, since it has the idea of “complete, finish” (tamam [<m*T*]). It could be translated “consumed” in this passage.
²⁰tn The construction uses a verbal hendiadys with the verb “to add” serving to modify the main verb.
²¹tn Heb “and you will destroy all this people.”
²²tn Heb “our little ones.”
²³tn The MT has husim; the verbal root is hus, “to make haste” or “hurry.” But in light of the Greek and Latin Vulgate the Hebrew should probably be emended to humusim, a qal passive participle meaning “in battle array.” See further BDB 301, 332; HALOT 1:300, 331.
²⁴tn Heb “from before.”
²⁵tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
²⁶tn Heb “said to them.”
²⁷tn The nuance of the perfect tense here has to be the future perfect.
²⁸tn Heb “that which goes out/has gone out of your mouth.”
²⁹tn Heb “and the land is subdued before you.”
³⁰tn Heb “that which the Lord has spoken to your servants, thus we will do.”
³¹tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
³²tn Heb “the land with its cities in the borders of the cities of the land all around.”
³³tn Heb “called names.”
³⁴tn Heb “in it.”