SEV Biblia, Chapter 32:16
¶ Entonces ellos vinieron a él y dijeron: Edificaremos aquí majadas para nuestro ganado, y ciudades para nuestros niños;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:16
Verse 16. We will build-cities for our little ones] It was impossible for these, numerous as they might be, to build cities and fortify them for the defense of their families in their absence. Calmet supposes they meant no more than repairing the cities of the Amorites which they had lately taken; which work might have been very easily accomplished in the time which they spent on this side of Jordan, before they went over with their brethren, to put them in possession of the land.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. And they came near unto him , etc.] The heads of the tribes of Gad and Reuben came a little nearer to Moses, having something more to say unto him, in order to explain their meaning, and in doing which they used some degree of freedom and boldness with him, (see Genesis 44:18) and said, we will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones not build new ones, but repair the old ones; for there were cities enough in the country, as before named, and no doubt sheepfolds too, as the land was a place of cattle, but those were through the war broken down and demolished, and needed repairing; and this they proposed to do, and leave their children and their cattle to the care of their servants, under the protection of the divine Providence, and did not mean for the present to take up their abode here.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-27 - Here is the good effect of plain dealing. Moses, by showing their sin and the danger of it, brought them to their duty, without murmuring of disputing. All men ought to consider the interests of others as well a their own; the law of love requires us to labour, venture, or suffe for each other as there may be occasion. They propose that their men of war should go ready armed before the children of Israel into the lan of Canaan, and that they should not return till the conquest of Canaa was ended. Moses grants their request, but he warns them of the dange of breaking their word. If you fail, you sin against the Lord, and no against your brethren only; God will certainly reckon with you for it Be sure your sin will find you out. Sin will surely find out the sinne sooner or later. It concerns us now to find our sins out, that we ma repent of them, and forsake them, lest they find us out to our ruin.
Original Hebrew
ויגשׁו 5066 אליו 413 ויאמרו 559 גדרת 1448 צאן 6629 נבנה 1129 למקננו 4735 פה 6311 וערים 5892 לטפנו׃ 2945
