Numbers 32:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For if you turn away from him, he will leave them in the desert again, and thus you will cause the destruction of all these people!"

Berean Standard Bible:

For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.”

American Standard Version:

For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye will destroy all this people.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For if ye turn away^{H7725} from after^{H310} him, he will yet again^{H3254} leave^{H3240} them in the wilderness^{H4057}; and ye shall destroy^{H7843} all this people^{H5971}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 32:15

Theme:
- **Faithfulness and Consequences:** The verse emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands and the dire consequences of disobedience. It reflects the broader biblical theme that God's blessings are conditional upon the people's adherence to His covenant.
- **Collective Responsibility:** There is a sense of corporate identity and responsibility within the Israelite community. The actions of some can affect the well-being of the entire nation.

Historical Context:
- **The Israelites at the Edge of the Promised Land:** Numbers 32:15 occurs towards the end of the Israelites' 40-year journey through the wilderness, as they are poised to enter the Promised Land. The tribes of Reuben and Gad, and later half of the tribe of Manasseh, requested to settle on the east side of the Jordan River, which was not part of the original Promised Land.
- **Concerns of Disunity:** Moses was concerned that if these tribes did not help in the conquest of Canaan, it could lead to disunity and discouragement among the Israelites, potentially causing them to abandon their faith in God.
- **Reminder of Past Failures:** The Israelites had a history of turning away from God, which led to their prolonged wandering in the wilderness. Moses warns that a failure to support the conquest could result in a repeat of their past mistakes and God's subsequent punishment.

In essence, Numbers 32:15 is a warning to the tribes of Reuben and Gad (and later Manasseh) that their request to settle outside of Canaan would be contingent upon their full participation in the conquest, lest they incite God's wrath and endanger the entire nation's entry into the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
2. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3254
   There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָסַף
   Transliteration: yâçaph
   Pronunciation: yaw-saf'
   Description: a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing); add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idiom] longer (bring, do, make, much, put), [idiom] (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed (further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, [idiom] yet, yield.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3240
   There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָנַח
   Transliteration: yânach
   Pronunciation: yaw-nakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay; bestow, cast down, lay (down, up), leave (off), let alone (remain), pacify, place, put, set (down), suffer, withdraw, withhold. (The Hiphil forms with the dagesh are here referred to, in accordance with the older grammarians; but if any distinction of the kind is to be made, these should rather be referred to נוּחַ, and the others here.)
   
5. Strong's Number: H4057
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִדְבָּר
   Transliteration: midbâr
   Pronunciation: mid-bawr'
   Description: from דָבַר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7843
   There are 136 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁחַת
   Transliteration: shâchath
   Pronunciation: shaw-khath'
   Description: a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, [idiom] utterly, waste(-r).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.