Good Pastures Numbers 32
THE men of the tribes of Reuben and Gad had a very great number of cattle, and they saw the land taken from the two kings, Sihon and Og, was a fine country for pastures. So they wanted to stay there, rather than to go across into Canaan.
Moses told them that the other people would be discouraged if all did not go on. But the men said they would build safe places to leave their families and the sheep and cattle, and they themselves would cross over and help the rest safe into Canaan.
So Moses said they could do that. Then some men of the tribe of Manasseh took land along the Jordan River, and half of the people of that tribe stayed there.
You see none of these people went first to see what a good land God would give them in Canaan. And later, when we read snore of these tribes, we know they did not choose the best way, because the Tent of God was set up in Canaan, and they could not all go there to honor Him.
There was one family in the tribe of Manasseh who believed God’s promises: the father had died, and had no sons, but there were five daughters. They asked to have the land which their father would have had. And God said they had spoken right, and should have the land. This shows us His care over all (Num. 20:33, and 27:1).
The rest of the tribes of Israel would each have their own lands in Canaan. Except the tribe of Levi were to be given cities in the lands of all the tribes, and perhaps we can learn of some of those cities later.
ML 11/28/1937