New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned vast numbers of livestock. So when they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideally suited for their flocks and herds,

1וּמִקְנֶ֣ה ׀ רַ֗ב הָיָ֞ה לִבְנֵ֧י רְאוּבֵ֛ן וְלִבְנֵי־ גָ֖ד עָצ֣וּם מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־ אֶ֤רֶץ יַעְזֵר֙ וְאֶת־ אֶ֣רֶץ גִּלְעָ֔ד וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַמָּק֖וֹם מְק֥וֹם מִקְנֶֽה׃

2they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the other leaders of the community. They said,

2וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ בְנֵֽי־ גָ֖ד וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁה֙ וְאֶל־ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶל־ נְשִׂיאֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

3“Notice the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon.

3עֲטָר֤וֹת וְדִיבֹן֙ וְיַעְזֵ֣ר וְנִמְרָ֔ה וְחֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵ֑ה וּשְׂבָ֥ם וּנְב֖וֹ וּבְעֹֽן׃

4The LORD has conquered this whole area for the community of Israel, and it is ideally suited for all our livestock.

4הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לִפְנֵי֙ עֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶ֥רֶץ מִקְנֶ֖ה הִ֑וא וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מִקְנֶֽה׃ ס

5If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River.”

5וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אִם־ מָצָ֤אנוּ חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ יֻתַּ֞ן אֶת־ הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לַעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ לַאֲחֻזָּ֑ה אַל־ תַּעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃

6“Do you intend to stay here while your brothers go across and do all the fighting?” Moses asked the men of Gad and Reuben.

6וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִבְנֵי־ גָ֖ד וְלִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן הַאַֽחֵיכֶ֗ם יָבֹ֙אוּ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתֶּ֖ם תֵּ֥שְׁבוּ פֹֽה׃

7“Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel from going across to the land the LORD has given them?

7וְלָ֣מָּה [תנואון] (תְנִיא֔וּן) אֶת־ לֵ֖ב בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֵֽעֲבֹר֙ אֶל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃

8Your ancestors did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land.

8כֹּ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּשָׁלְחִ֥י אֹתָ֛ם מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

9After they went up to the valley of Eshcol and explored the land, they discouraged the people of Israel from entering the land the LORD was giving them.

9וַֽיַּעֲל֞וּ עַד־ נַ֣חַל אֶשְׁכּ֗וֹל וַיִּרְאוּ֙ אֶת־ הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיָּנִ֕יאוּ אֶת־ לֵ֖ב בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְבִלְתִּי־ בֹא֙ אֶל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃

10Then the LORD was very angry with them, and he vowed,

10וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֥ף יְהוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע לֵאמֹֽר׃

11‘Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly.

11אִם־ יִרְא֨וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים הָעֹלִ֣ים מִמִּצְרַ֗יִם מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה אֵ֚ת הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֛עְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹ֑ב כִּ֥י לֹא־ מִלְא֖וּ אַחֲרָֽי׃

12The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the LORD.’

12בִּלְתִּ֞י כָּלֵ֤ב בֶּן־ יְפֻנֶּה֙ הַקְּנִזִּ֔י וִיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־ נ֑וּן כִּ֥י מִלְא֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

13“The LORD was angry with Israel and made them wander in the wilderness for forty years until the entire generation that sinned in the LORD’s sight had died.

13וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֤ף יְהוָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְנִעֵם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה עַד־ תֹּם֙ כָּל־ הַדּ֔וֹר הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

14But here you are, a brood of sinners, doing exactly the same thing! You are making the LORD even angrier with Israel.

14וְהִנֵּ֣ה קַמְתֶּ֗ם תַּ֚חַת אֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תַּרְבּ֖וּת אֲנָשִׁ֣ים חַטָּאִ֑ים לִסְפּ֣וֹת ע֗וֹד עַ֛ל חֲר֥וֹן אַף־ יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

15If you turn away from him like this and he abandons them again in the wilderness, you will be responsible for destroying this entire nation!”

15כִּ֤י תְשׁוּבֻן֙ מֵֽאַחֲרָ֔יו וְיָסַ֣ף ע֔וֹד לְהַנִּיח֖וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְשִֽׁחַתֶּ֖ם לְכָל־ הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃ ס

16But they approached Moses and said, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.

16וַיִּגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ וַ֣יֹּאמְר֔וּ גִּדְרֹ֥ת צֹ֛אן נִבְנֶ֥ה לְמִקְנֵ֖נוּ פֹּ֑ה וְעָרִ֖ים לְטַפֵּֽנוּ׃

17Then we will arm ourselves and lead our fellow Israelites into battle until we have brought them safely to their land. Meanwhile, our families will stay in the fortified towns we build here, so they will be safe from any attacks by the local people.

17וַאֲנַ֜חְנוּ נֵחָלֵ֣ץ חֻשִׁ֗ים לִפְנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִם־ הֲבִֽיאֹנֻ֖ם אֶל־ מְקוֹמָ֑ם וְיָשַׁ֤ב טַפֵּ֙נוּ֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַמִּבְצָ֔ר מִפְּנֵ֖י יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃

18We will not return to our homes until all the people of Israel have received their portions of land.

18לֹ֥א נָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־ בָּתֵּ֑ינוּ עַ֗ד הִתְנַחֵל֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֖ישׁ נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃

19But we do not claim any of the land on the other side of the Jordan. We would rather live here on the east side and accept this as our grant of land.”

19כִּ֣י לֹ֤א נִנְחַל֙ אִתָּ֔ם מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וָהָ֑לְאָה כִּ֣י בָ֤אָה נַחֲלָתֵ֙נוּ֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ מֵעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מִזְרָֽחָה׃ פ

20Then Moses said, “If you keep your word and arm yourselves for the LORD’s battles,

20וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה אִֽם־ תַּעֲשׂ֖וּן אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה אִם־ תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

21and if your troops cross the Jordan and keep fighting until the LORD has driven out his enemies,

21וְעָבַ֨ר לָכֶ֧ם כָּל־ חָל֛וּץ אֶת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה עַ֧ד הוֹרִישׁ֛וֹ אֶת־ אֹיְבָ֖יו מִפָּנָֽיו׃

22then you may return when the LORD has conquered the land. You will have fulfilled your duty to the LORD and to the rest of the people of Israel. And the land on the east side of the Jordan will be your property from the LORD.

22וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה הָאָ֜רֶץ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ וְאַחַ֣ר תָּשֻׁ֔בוּ וִהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ים מֵיְהוָ֖ה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ֠הָיְתָה הָאָ֨רֶץ הַזֹּ֥את לָכֶ֛ם לַאֲחֻזָּ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

23But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the LORD, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

23וְאִם־ לֹ֤א תַעֲשׂוּן֙ כֵּ֔ן הִנֵּ֥ה חֲטָאתֶ֖ם לַיהוָ֑ה וּדְעוּ֙ חַטַּאתְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּמְצָ֖א אֶתְכֶֽם׃

24Go ahead and build towns for your families and pens for your flocks, but do everything you have promised.”

24בְּנֽוּ־ לָכֶ֤ם עָרִים֙ לְטַפְּכֶ֔ם וּגְדֵרֹ֖ת לְצֹנַאֲכֶ֑ם וְהַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּיכֶ֖ם תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃

25Then the men of Gad and Reuben replied, “We, your servants, will follow your instructions exactly.

25וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בְּנֵי־ גָד֙ וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ יַעֲשׂ֔וּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י מְצַוֶּֽה׃

26Our children, wives, flocks, and cattle will stay here in the towns of Gilead.

26טַפֵּ֣נוּ נָשֵׁ֔ינוּ מִקְנֵ֖נוּ וְכָל־ בְּהֶמְתֵּ֑נוּ יִֽהְיוּ־ שָׁ֖ם בְּעָרֵ֥י הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

27But all who are able to bear arms will cross over to fight for the LORD, just as you have said.”

27וַעֲבָדֶ֨יךָ יַֽעַבְר֜וּ כָּל־ חֲל֥וּץ צָבָ֛א לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י דֹּבֵֽר׃

28So Moses gave orders to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the clans of Israel.

28וַיְצַ֤ו לָהֶם֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵ֚ת אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־ נ֑וּן וְאֶת־ רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

29He said, “The men of Gad and Reuben who are armed for battle must cross the Jordan with you to fight for the LORD. If they do, give them the land of Gilead as their property when the land is conquered.

29וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אִם־ יַעַבְר֣וּ בְנֵי־ גָ֣ד וּבְנֵי־ רְאוּבֵ֣ן ׀ אִ֠תְּכֶם אֶֽת־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֞ן כָּל־ חָל֤וּץ לַמִּלְחָמָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם לָהֶ֛ם אֶת־ אֶ֥רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֖ד לַאֲחֻזָּֽה׃

30But if they refuse to arm themselves and cross over with you, then they must accept land with the rest of you in the land of Canaan.”

30וְאִם־ לֹ֧א יַֽעַבְר֛וּ חֲלוּצִ֖ים אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְנֹֽאחֲז֥וּ בְתֹכְכֶ֖ם‪‬ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

31The tribes of Gad and Reuben said again, “We are your servants, and we will do as the LORD has commanded!

31וַיַּֽעֲנ֧וּ בְנֵי־ גָ֛ד וּבְנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ כֵּ֥ן נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

32We will cross the Jordan into Canaan fully armed to fight for the LORD, but our property will be here on this side of the Jordan.”

32נַ֣חְנוּ נַעֲבֹ֧ר חֲלוּצִ֛ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְאִתָּ֙נוּ֙ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת נַחֲלָתֵ֔נוּ מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃

33So Moses assigned land to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph. He gave them the territory of King Sihon of the Amorites and the land of King Og of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and surrounding lands.

33וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֣ם ׀ מֹשֶׁ֡ה לִבְנֵי־ גָד֩ וְלִבְנֵ֨י רְאוּבֵ֜ן וְלַחֲצִ֣י ׀ שֵׁ֣בֶט ׀ מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־ יוֹסֵ֗ף אֶת־ מַמְלֶ֙כֶת֙ סִיחֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י וְאֶת־ מַמְלֶ֔כֶת ע֖וֹג מֶ֣לֶךְ הַבָּשָׁ֑ן הָאָ֗רֶץ לְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ בִּגְבֻלֹ֔ת עָרֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ סָבִֽיב׃

34The descendants of Gad built the towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,

34וַיִּבְנ֣וּ בְנֵי־ גָ֔ד אֶת־ דִּיבֹ֖ן וְאֶת־ עֲטָרֹ֑ת וְאֵ֖ת עֲרֹעֵֽר׃

35Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

35וְאֶת־ עַטְרֹ֥ת שׁוֹפָ֛ן וְאֶת־ יַעְזֵ֖ר וְיָגְבֳּהָֽה׃

36Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran. These were all fortified towns with pens for their flocks.

36וְאֶת־ בֵּ֥ית נִמְרָ֖ה וְאֶת־ בֵּ֣ית הָרָ֑ן עָרֵ֥י מִבְצָ֖ר וְגִדְרֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃

37The descendants of Reuben built the towns of Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

37וּבְנֵ֤י רְאוּבֵן֙ בָּנ֔וּ אֶת־ חֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶת־ אֶלְעָלֵ֑א וְאֵ֖ת קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃

38Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah. They changed the names of some of the towns they conquered and rebuilt.

38וְאֶת־ נְב֞וֹ וְאֶת־ בַּ֧עַל מְע֛וֹן מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת שֵׁ֖ם וְאֶת־ שִׂבְמָ֑ה וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ בְשֵׁמֹ֔ת אֶת־ שְׁמ֥וֹת הֶעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנֽוּ׃

39Then the descendants of Makir of the tribe of Manasseh went to Gilead and conquered it, and they drove out the Amorites living there.

39וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ בְּנֵ֨י מָכִ֧יר בֶּן־ מְנַשֶּׁ֛ה גִּלְעָ֖דָה וַֽיִּלְכְּדֻ֑הָ וַיּ֖וֹרֶשׁ אֶת־ הָאֱמֹרִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־ בָּֽהּ׃

40So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there.

40וַיִּתֵּ֤ן מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־ הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמָכִ֖יר בֶּן־ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בָּֽהּ׃

41The people of Jair, another clan of the tribe of Manasseh, captured many of the towns in Gilead and changed the name of that region to the Towns of Jair.

41וְיָאִ֤יר בֶּן־ מְנַשֶּׁה֙ הָלַ֔ךְ וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־ חַוֺּתֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶתְהֶ֖ן חַוֺּ֥ת יָאִֽיר׃

42Meanwhile, a man named Nobah captured the town of Kenath and its surrounding villages, and he renamed that area Nobah after himself.

42וְנֹ֣בַח הָלַ֔ךְ וַיִּלְכֹּ֥ד אֶת־ קְנָ֖ת וְאֶת־ בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיִּקְרָ֧א לָ֦ה נֹ֖בַח בִּשְׁמֽוֹ׃ פ

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.