Reuben & Gad's Request (Numbers 32)

Before we judge God harshly, let’s ask ourselves some questions: Does God have an eternal plan for even innocent children? Is it merciful to allow children just to be sacrificed, or taught harmful practices, or do we trust God with a mysterious future not yet fully revealed? Is God perfectly loving and just, even in ways we don’t yet understand? Let’s look at Numbers 32.

Which two tribes wanted to settle east of the Jordan River with a large cattle herd?

Now, the descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad happened to be joint owners of a very large herd of cattle. When they observed that Jazer and Gilead were good grazing lands for cattle, the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community and said, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon— the land that the Lord defeated in the sight of the community of Israel—is perfect for cattle and your servants have cattle. If we’ve found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as our possession instead of us crossing the Jordan River.” (Numbers 32:1-5 ISV)

Did Moses have a frank conversation with them about conquering the land?

And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them? Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them. And the Lord's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, 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: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord. (Numbers 32:6-12 KJV)

What else did Moses warn the two tribes of Reuben and Gad about?

So Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of Yahweh was brought to an end. Now behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the burning anger of Yahweh against Israel. For if you turn away from following Him, He will once more abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.” (Numbers 32:13-15 LSB)

What did Reuben and Gad pledge to Moses and all Israel?

Then they approached him and said, “We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones; but we ourselves will be armed, hurrying ahead of the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has gained possession of his inheritance. But we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” (Numbers 32:16-19 NASB)

What was Moses’ reply to the two tribes of Reuben and Gad?

Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him— then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord. But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.” (Numbers 32:20-24 NIV)

How did the descendants of Gad and Reuben answer Moses?

And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying: “Your servants will do as my lord commands. Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead; but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, just as my lord says.” (Numbers 32:25-27 NKJV)