Seminaries and Institutes
Numbers 32: Land for Reuben and Gad


“Numbers 32: Land for Reuben and Gad,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 70–71

“Numbers 32,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 70–71

Numbers 32

Land for Reuben and Gad

While the children of Israel were on the east side of the Jordan River waiting to cross over into Canaan, the tribes of Reuben and Gad asked Moses if they could have their inheritance on the east side because they thought the land looked good for cattle. Moses told them the other tribes would be upset if they did not help conquer the land on the west of the Jordan (Canaan); the main body of Israelites felt that conquering Canaan’s inhabitants would be hard enough with all twelve tribes. Reuben and Gad agreed to send their men to help with the conquest until every tribe had an inheritance. They would, however, leave their women, children, and cattle behind on the eastern shore. Moses agreed to this arrangement and also gave half the tribe of Manasseh an inheritance on the east of the Jordan as well (see Bible map 3).

map of Reuben and Gad

Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

Tyre

Accho

Dor

Dan (Laish)

Hazor

Ashtaroth

Ramoth-gilead

Megiddo

Jezreel

Beth-shan

Jabesh-gilead

Succoth

Shiloh

Jericho

Rabbah

Ashdod

Ashkelon

Libnah

Jerusalem

Gath

Lachish

Gaza

Hebron

En-gedi

Joppa

Beer-sheba

Hormah

Mt. Carmel

Mt. Tabor

Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee)

Mt. Ebal

Mt. Gerizim

Mt. Nebo

Jordan River

Jabbok River

Salt Sea (Dead Sea)

Zered Brook

Arnon River

Bashan

Ammon

Philistines

Moab

Edom

Asher

Dan

Dan

Naphtali

Manasseh

Zebulun

Issachar

Manasseh

Gad

Ephraim

Benjamin

Judah

Reuben

Simeon