SEV Biblia, Chapter 32:17
y nosotros nos armaremos, e iremos con diligencia delante de los hijos de Israel, hasta que los metamos en su lugar; y nuestros niños quedarán en ciudades fuertes a causa de los moradores de la tierra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:17
Verse 17. Because of the inhabitants of the land.] These were the Ammonites, Moabites, Idumeans, and the remains of the Midianites and Amorites. But could the women and children even keep the defenced cities, when placed in them? This certainly cannot be supposed possible. Many of the men of war must of course stay behind. In the last census, chap. xxvi., the tribe of Reuben consisted of 43, 730 men; the tribe of Gad, 40, 500; the tribe of Manasseh, 52, 700; the half of which is 26, 350. Add this to the sum of the other two tribes, and the amount is 110, 580. Now from Josh. iv. 13 we learn that of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, only 40, 000 armed men passed over Jordan to assist their brethren in the reduction of the land: consequently the number of 70, 580 men were left behind for the defense of the women, the children, and the flocks. This was more than sufficient to defend them against a people already panic struck by their late discomfitures and reverses.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel , etc.] This they said to free themselves from the charge of cowardice, and that they did not mean to sit still while their brethren went to war; they were willing to put on their armour, and be ready to meet the enemy upon the borders of the land, and engage with them, and to expose their lives in favour of their brethren: until we have brought them unto their place ; to the land of Canaan, the place designed for them, and given unto them, to the possession of it, and a settlement in it: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the inhabitants of the land ; where they might be safe from them, which they proposed to repair and refortify for the security of them, while they went with their brethren into the land of Canaan, to put them into possession of that, of which they made not the least doubt; and so served to clear them of suspicion of any distrust they had of entering into and possessing the land, which might tend to discourage the people.
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
ואנחנו 587 נחלץ 2502 חשׁים 2363 לפני 6440 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 עד 5704 אשׁר 834 אם 518 הביאנם 935 אל 413 מקומם 4725 וישׁב 3427 טפנו 2945 בערי 5892 המבצר 4013 מפני 6440 ישׁבי 3427 הארץ׃ 776
