Numbers 32:5
in Numbers 32“If we have found favor in your sight,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they said, If we have found favor in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; bring us not over the Jordan.
KJV
Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
⋯
This verse in Numbers 32
Commentary
6 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 Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And still it is too true that many seek their own things more than the things of Jesus Christ ( Phil. ii. 21 ), and that many are influenced by their secular interest and advantage to take up short of the heavenly Canaan.
Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight,.... Directing their speech to Moses, the ruler of the congregation, in a very modest, decent, and respectable manner: let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; as their own portion and inheritance, to be enjoyed by them, and their children after them: and bring us not over Jordan; into the land of Canaan, where as they after explain themselves, they did not desire to have any part with their brethren, but should be content with their possession here, should it be granted them.
Moses is therefore very warm upon them, which is to be imputed to his pious zeal against sin, and not to any peevishness, the effect of old age, for his meekness abated not, any more than his natural force.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Let this land be given unto thy servants - Because it was good for pasturage, and they had many flocks, Num 32:1.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ | vaiyomeru | and they said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| מָצָ֤אנוּ | matzanu | we have found | H4672 → | 455 times |
| חֵן֙ | chen | favor | H2580 → | 69 times |
| בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ | beeineikha | in view your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| יֻתַּ֞ן | yutan | let it be given | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָאָ֧רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| הַזֹּ֛את | hazot | <the> this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| לַעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ | laavadeikha | to servants your | H5650 → | 799 times |
| לַאֲחֻזָּ֑ה | laachuzah | to a possession | H272 → | 66 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תַּעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ | taavirenu | you make pass over us | H5674 → | 556 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ | haiyarden | the Jordan | H3383 → | 182 times |
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּand they said
vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
מָצָ֤אנוּwe have found
matzanuH4672 →455 times
חֵן֙favor
chenH2580 →69 times
בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָin view your
beeineikhaH5869 →887 times
יֻתַּ֞ןlet it be given
yutanH5414 →2011 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָאָ֧רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
הַזֹּ֛את<the> this
hazotH2063 →603 times
לַעֲבָדֶ֖יךָto servants your
laavadeikhaH5650 →799 times
לַאֲחֻזָּ֑הto a possession
laachuzahH272 →66 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תַּעֲבִרֵ֖נוּyou make pass over us
taavirenuH5674 →556 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃the Jordan
haiyardenH3383 →182 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
Ruth 2:10At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though…
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 25:23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
- Ruth 2:13
“My lord,” she said, “may I continue to find favor in your eyes, for you have comforted and spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your servant girls.”
- Luke 17:16–18
He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
- Luke 1:48
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
- Luke 1:43
And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
- 1 Samuel 25:23
Through
Esther 5:2As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched…
it leads to
- Esther 8:4
The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.
- Esther 4:11
“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be…
- Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
- Esther 8:4
About Numbers
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.