Numbers 32:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe answered the descendants of Gad and of Re'uven: "Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here?

Berean Standard Bible:

But Moses asked the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?

American Standard Version:

And Moses said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall ye sit here?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} said^{H559} unto the children^{H1121} of Gad^{H1410} and to the children^{H1121} of Reuben^{H7205}, Shall your brethren^{H251} go^{H935} to war^{H4421}, and shall ye sit^{H3427} here?

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 32:6

**Themes:**
- Responsibility and Solidarity: The verse emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility among the tribes of Israel. Moses questions the loyalty and commitment of the tribes of Gad and Reuben, implying that they have a duty to support their fellow Israelites in times of conflict.
- Land and Inheritance: The underlying issue is the allocation of land. The tribes of Gad and Reuben desire to settle on the east side of the Jordan, which they consider suitable for their livestock. This raises questions about their willingness to fight for the Promised Land that lies west of the Jordan, which has been promised to all the tribes of Israel.
- Leadership and Decision Making: Moses' response reflects his role as a leader, challenging the two tribes to consider the implications of their actions on the broader community and to make decisions that reflect the collective good rather than individual or tribal interests.

**Historical Context:**
- The Israelites are on the brink of entering the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
- The tribes of Gad and Reuben, having large herds and flocks, see the lands east of the Jordan, recently conquered from the Amorites, as fertile and suitable for their needs.
- They approach Moses with a proposal to settle there instead of crossing the Jordan to help conquer the land for all the tribes.
- Moses' response in Numbers 32:6 is part of a larger negotiation where he seeks to ensure that the two tribes will not shirk their military responsibilities to their fellow Israelites. He insists that they must first help in the conquest of Canaan before they can claim their land east of the Jordan.

The verse captures a pivotal moment where the unity of the Israelite community is tested against the backdrop of land distribution and the fulfillment of God's promise to the descendants of Abraham.

*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: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1410
   There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּד
   Transliteration: Gâd
   Pronunciation: gawd
   Description: from גּוּד; Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territory; also a prophet; Gad.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7205
   There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רְאוּבֵן
   Transliteration: Rᵉʼûwbên
   Pronunciation: reh-oo-bane'
   Description: from the imperative of רָאָה and בֵּן; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob; Reuben.
   
6. Strong's Number: H251
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָח
   Transliteration: ʼâch
   Pronunciation: awkh
   Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.
   
7. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4421
   There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
   Transliteration: milchâmâh
   Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
   Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior).
   
9. Strong's Number: H3427
   There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁב
   Transliteration: yâshab
   Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.