John Calvin Commentary Numbers 32:6

"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?" — Numbers 32:6 (ASV)

And Moses said to the children of Gad. Such a sharp and severe reproof shows us the greatness of the wrong: for Moses was neither carried away into such violent anger by thoughtless passion, nor did he fall into error by giving his opinion on a matter he did not fully understand. Therefore, he knew what the sons of Gad and Reuben asked; and for this reason he spoke so vehemently against them, because they desired to tear apart the body of the Church by this wicked separation.

He begins by reasoning earnestly with them regarding their sinful and unreasonable covetousness, because they sought to indulge in idleness while their brothers were about to march through a hostile land. For they possessed no rightful superiority that would allow them to place all the labors, dangers, and burdens of the war on the others. Therefore, since God had placed all under the same condition,²¹³ it was not right that some of them should be excused from it, as if by privilege.

More severely, however, are their ingratitude and stubbornness towards God rebuked than their injustice towards their brothers, as he charges them with thereby breaking the hearts of the children of Israel,²¹⁴ so that they would refuse to obey God's call.

²¹³ “Que Dieu les avoit conjoints ensemble, afin que les uns teinssent compagnie aux autres;” that God had united them together, so that they should keep company with each other. — Fr..

²¹⁴ See Margin, A.V., ver. 7, “, “Heb. break.”. break.”