Keraia
Numbers 32

Numbers 32:3

The Tribes East of the Jordan · Numbers 32:1–42
Read Numbers 32

Translations

Modern
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Traditional
Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
Literal
“Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
Latin
Ataroth, et Dibon, et Jazer, et Nemra, Hesebon, et Eleale, et Saban, et Nebo, et Beon,

Original

Hebrew
English
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

Notes

Numbers 32:3

  • Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh settled in the land Israel had recently captured from Sihon the Amorite and Og of Bashan (see 21:21–35).

  • Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, and Elealeh have been connected with known archaeological sites. These places have been identified with ruins that researchers have studied.

  • The location of Sebam is unknown.

  • The exact location of the town called Nebo is not known. However, it was likely near a mountain or ridge with the same name. This mountain stood along the steep slope (escarpment) that rises above the northern end of the Dead Sea.

  • The place called Beon is almost certainly the same as “Baal-meon” in 32:38. It likely matches the ruins at Ma’in.

Numbers 32:1–5

After Israel took control of the central area east of the Jordan River, during the battles described in chapter 21, they began preparing to enter Canaan.

At that time, the Israelites needed to remain united. But two tribes asked for permission to settle on the east side of the Jordan River instead of crossing into Canaan.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses

Parallels

Deuteronomy 3:12–22 Joshua 13:8–14

Places

Ataroth: Town in Gilead allotted to Gad Baal-meon: Moabite town, allotted to Reuben, later retaken by Moab Beth-nimrah: Town in Gad, east of the Jordan River Dibon: Moabite city, allotted to Gad, later possessed by Moab Elealeh: Moabite city assigned to Reuben; later prophecies of destruction Heshbon: Amorite city conquered by Moses, allotted to Reuben Jazer: A town in Gilead, allotted to Gad Nebo: A city and mountain in Moab Sebam: Town in the territory of Reuben

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Ammon, Ammonites Arabah Ataroth Baal-meon Beon Beth-Nimrah Conquest and Allotment of the Land Deuteronomy, Book of Dibon Elealeh Gilead (Place) Jazer Joshua, Book of Manasseh, Tribe of Moab, Moabites Nebo (Place) Nimrah Numbers, Book of Reuben (Place) Shebam Sibmah

Topics

Ataroth: A City East of the Jordan River Baal-Meon: Beon Beon: A Place East of the Jordan River, Probably Same As Baal-Meon, Which See Beth-Baal-Meon: Called Beon Beth-Baal-Meon: Subdued by the Israelites Beth-Nimrah: Called Nimrah Cattle: Gilead Adapted to the Raising of Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Reubenites Obtained the Land Taken from the Amorites Dibon: Also Called Dibon-Gad and Dimon: Allotted to Gad and Reuben Elealeh: Taken by the Israelites Gad: A Tribe of Israel: Petition for Their Portion of Land East of the Jordan River Gilead: A Region East of the Jordan River Allotted to the Tribes of Reuben and Gad and the Half Tribe of Manasseh Haste in Judgment, by Moses and the Israelites Jaazer: A Levitical City of Refuge in Gilead, Allotted to Gad, and Given to the Levites Jazer: A City of Refuge East of the Jordan River: Taken from the Amorites Misjudgment of the Reubenites and Gadites Motive: Misunderstood: The Tribes of Reuben and Gad, in Asking for Their Inheritance East of the Jordan River Mountains: Nebo (Part of Abarim) Nebo: A City Allotted to the Tribe of Reuben Nimrah: A City in the Territory of the Tribe of Gad Petition: Israel Shebam: A City of the Tribe of Reuben Sibmah: Apparently Also Called Shebam the Tribe of Gad: Sought and Obtained Its Inheritance East of Jordan the Tribe of Reuben: Obtained Inheritance East of Jordan on Condition of Helping Uncharitableness: The Tribes West of the Jordan River Toward the Two and a Half Tribes