Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 32

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad ... — These tribes had occupied a contiguous position in their encampments for thirty-eight years (Numbers 2:10; Numbers 2:14), and it was natural that they should desire to be permanently located near each other.

The land of Jazer. — See Numbers 21:32. This district was remarkable for its rich pasture-land.

The land of Gilead. — This land lay north and south of the Jabbok, and even in its present desolation shows traces of its great fertility.

Bring us not over Jordan— These words may be understood either simply as a request that the inheritance of the speakers might be assigned to them on the eastern side of the Jordan, or, as they appear to have been understood by Moses, and as they were in all probability designed to be understood, as a request that the conquest of the western side of the Jordan might be left to the other tribes, and that the Reubenites and Gadites might be permitted at once to establish themselves in the land which had been already subjugated.

It is possible that the speakers, judging from the ease and rapidity with which the eastern side of the Jordan had been conquered, might have thought that their brothers were well able to subdue the western side without their aid. Be this as it may, their language indicated a selfish consideration of their own interests, and it was calculated to discourage and dishearten their brothers, and consequently it was strongly reproved by Moses. It is deserving of notice that the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh were among the first who were taken into captivity by the King of Assyria (1 Chronicles 5:26).

And wherefore discourage ye the heart ... — The verb which is rendered discourage, and which occurs again in Numbers 32:9, means rather to “alienate,” or “avert.” The cognate noun occurs in Numbers 32:34, in the same connection in which it is used in Numbers 32:9. (See Note in the place cited.)

For they have wholly followed the Lord.— See Numbers 14:24.

And he made them wander in the wilderness forty years.— Moses here declares the fulfilment of the prediction which he had announced in obedience to the Divine commandment at the time when the spies brought up an evil report of the land. (See Numbers 14:33-34.)