Numbers 32:4
in Numbers 32which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, are suitable for livestock—and your servants have livestock.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
the land which Jehovah smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle; and thy servants have cattle.
KJV
Even the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:
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This verse in Numbers 32
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The whole of this region is now called the Belka. It has always been famous for its rich and extensive pastures, and it is still the favorite resort of the Bedouin shepherds, who frequently contend for securing to their immense flocks the benefit of its luxuriant vegetation.
This site's exposition
the country which the Lord smote
on Numbers 32:4-5
They ground the request on what God did, the country which the Lord smote before the congregation, and then ask to be left out of the crossing. The borders of the land Israel is about to receive are given at Numbers 34:2-12 and they run from the Jordan westward, so the ground these tribes want sits outside the line drawn there. Their last five words, bring us not over Jordan, are what Moses answers for the next eighteen verses.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Pacian of BarcelonaMorals on the Book of Job, Book 27, Section 24 · Written before 391.
proposed
Because then there are many in the Church, who scorn to be little ones, they cease not to be great in their own sight, even in the place of humility. You may frequently see them raised high in honours, enjoying pleasures, and spreading abroad with the multiplicity of their goods. These often specially desire nothing, except to rule over others, are pleased at being feared by many; neglect to live uprightly, and wish to have the credit of an upright life; court flattery, and are puffed up by applause. And since they are abundantly supplied with goods ready at hand, they do not seek for the joys which are to come. And, because manifold employments engage them, they prove them to be strangers even to themselves. And yet if any trial of their faith arise, because they are contained therein though but in appearance, they defend it by words, they defend it by their exertions, and claim their heavenly country, and yet love it not. And these do the sons of Reuben, and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, well represent in Moses; who possessing many flocks and herds, whilst they desire that plain country which they had seen beyond Jordan, refused to receive an inheritance in the land of promise, saying, The country which the Lord smote before the sight of the children of Israel, is of a region most fertile for the pasture of animals, and we thy servants have many beasts; and we pray thee, if we have found grace in thy sight, to give it unto us thy servants for a possession, and make us not to pass over Jordan. They therefore who possess very many beasts of burden, avoid passing over Jordan, because they, whom many worldly engagements occupy, do not seek for the abode of their heavenly country. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
PateriusEXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, NUMBERS 23 · Written before 606.
proposed
There are some in the church who despise being little ones. Even where humility should prevail, they hardly cease being grand in their own eyes. You can see them being exalted with honors, enjoying pleasures, being entertained by the sheer number of things. Often they …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Even the county which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel,....
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הָאָ֗רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הִכָּ֤ה | hikah | he defeated | H5221 → | 499 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לִפְנֵי֙ | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| עֲדַ֣ת | ʾadat | [the] congregation of | H5712 → | 149 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| אֶ֥רֶץ | ʾeretz | [is] a land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מִקְנֶ֖ה | mikneh | livestock | H4735 → | 76 times |
| הִ֑וא | hi' | it | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ | velaavadeikha | and [belongs] to servants your | H5650 → | 799 times |
| מִקְנֶֽה׃ ס | mikneh | livestock | H4735 → | 76 times |
הָאָ֗רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הִכָּ֤הhe defeated
hikahH5221 →499 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לִפְנֵי֙<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
עֲדַ֣ת[the] congregation of
ʾadatH5712 →149 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
אֶ֥רֶץ[is] a land of
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
מִקְנֶ֖הlivestock
miknehH4735 →76 times
הִ֑ואit
hi'H1931 →1879 times
וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָand [belongs] to servants your
velaavadeikhaH5650 →799 times
מִקְנֶֽה׃ סlivestock
miknehH4735 →76 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Numbers 21:24And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.
it leads to
- Amos 2:9
Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and…
- Psalms 136:19
Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever.
- Joshua 24:8
Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your hand, that you should possess their land when I…
- Nehemiah 9:22
You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan.
- Genesis 32:22
During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
- Amos 2:9
Through
Numbers 21:34But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon…
it leads to
- Psalms 135:10–11
He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings:
- Numbers 21:24–25
And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.
- Deuteronomy 3:2–3
But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon…
- Psalms 135:10–11
About Numbers
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch; Pacian of Barcelona, Morals on the Book of Job, Book 27, Section 24 and Paterius, EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, NUMBERS 23.