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THE MESSAGE
Numbers 32:16
They came close to him and said, "All we want to do is build corrals for our livestock and towns for our families. Then we'll take up arms and take the front lines, leading the People of Israel to their place. We'll be able to leave our families behind, secure in fortified towns, safe from those who live in the land. But we won't go back home until every Israelite is in full possession of his inheritance. We won't expect any inheritance west of the Jordan; we are claiming all our inheritance east of the Jordan."
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
They came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
They came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
King James Version
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
Lexham English Bible
They came near to him and said, "We will build sheep pens here for the flock of our livestock and cities for our little children;
They came near to him and said, "We will build sheep pens here for the flock of our livestock and cities for our little children;
English Standard Version
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
New Century Version
Then the Reubenites and Gadites came up to Moses and said, "We will build pens for our animals and cities for our children here.
Then the Reubenites and Gadites came up to Moses and said, "We will build pens for our animals and cities for our children here.
New English Translation
Then they came very close to him and said, "We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families,
Then they came very close to him and said, "We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families,
Amplified Bible
But the people of Reuben and Gad approached Moses and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and [walled] cities for our children,
But the people of Reuben and Gad approached Moses and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and [walled] cities for our children,
New American Standard Bible
Then they approached him and said, "We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones;
Then they approached him and said, "We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they went neere to him, and said, We will builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe, and for our cattell, and cities for our children.
And they went neere to him, and said, We will builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe, and for our cattell, and cities for our children.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
Contemporary English Version
The men from Reuben and Gad replied: Let us build places to keep our sheep and goats, and towns for our wives and children,
The men from Reuben and Gad replied: Let us build places to keep our sheep and goats, and towns for our wives and children,
Complete Jewish Bible
But they came up to him and said, "Here we will build enclosures for our livestock and cities for our little ones,
But they came up to him and said, "Here we will build enclosures for our livestock and cities for our little ones,
Darby Translation
And they drew near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones;
And they drew near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones;
Easy-to-Read Version
But the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad went to Moses. They said, "We will build cities for our children and barns for our animals here.
But the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad went to Moses. They said, "We will build cities for our children and barns for our animals here.
George Lamsa Translation
Then they came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle and cities for our little ones;
Then they came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle and cities for our little ones;
Good News Translation
They approached Moses and said, "First, allow us to build stone enclosures here for our sheep and fortified towns for our dependents.
They approached Moses and said, "First, allow us to build stone enclosures here for our sheep and fortified towns for our dependents.
Christian Standard Bible®
Then they approached him and said, “We want to build sheep pens here for our livestock and cities for our dependents.
Then they approached him and said, “We want to build sheep pens here for our livestock and cities for our dependents.
Literal Translation
And they came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones.
And they came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then stepte they to him, & sayde: we wyll but buylde shepefoldes here for oure shepe & catell, & cities for or children:
Then stepte they to him, & sayde: we wyll but buylde shepefoldes here for oure shepe & catell, & cities for or children:
American Standard Version
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
Bible in Basic English
Then they came to him, and said, We will make safe places for our cattle here, and towns for our little ones;
Then they came to him, and said, We will make safe places for our cattle here, and towns for our little ones;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they went neare hym, and sayde: We wyll builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe & for our cattell, and [walled] cities for our children:
And they went neare hym, and sayde: We wyll builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe & for our cattell, and [walled] cities for our children:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And they came near unto him, and said: 'We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones;
And they came near unto him, and said: 'We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones;
King James Version (1611)
And they came neere vnto him, and said, Wee will build sheepfoldes here for our cattell, and cities for our litle ones.
And they came neere vnto him, and said, Wee will build sheepfoldes here for our cattell, and cities for our litle ones.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they came to him, and said, We will build here folds for our cattle, and cities for our possessions;
And they came to him, and said, We will build here folds for our cattle, and cities for our possessions;
English Revised Version
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
Berean Standard Bible
Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, "We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones.
Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, "We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei neiyiden nyy, and seiden, We schulen make foldis of scheep, and the stablis of beestis, and we schulen make strengthid citees to oure litle children.
And thei neiyiden nyy, and seiden, We schulen make foldis of scheep, and the stablis of beestis, and we schulen make strengthid citees to oure litle children.
Young's Literal Translation
And they come nigh unto him, and say, `Folds for the flock we build for our cattle here, and cities for our infants;
And they come nigh unto him, and say, `Folds for the flock we build for our cattle here, and cities for our infants;
Update Bible Version
And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
Webster's Bible Translation
And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheep-folds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheep-folds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
World English Bible
They came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
They came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
New King James Version
Then they came near to him and said: "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
Then they came near to him and said: "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
New Living Translation
But they approached Moses and said, "We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.
But they approached Moses and said, "We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.
New Life Bible
Then they came near him and said, "We will build safe places for our flocks here, and cities for our little ones.
Then they came near him and said, "We will build safe places for our flocks here, and cities for our little ones.
New Revised Standard
Then they came up to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and towns for our little ones,
Then they came up to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and towns for our little ones,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then came they near unto him, and said, Folds, for flocks, would we build for our cattle, here, - and cities for our little ones;
Then came they near unto him, and said, Folds, for flocks, would we build for our cattle, here, - and cities for our little ones;
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they coming near, said: We will make sheepfolds, and stalls for our cattle, and strong cities for our children:
But they coming near, said: We will make sheepfolds, and stalls for our cattle, and strong cities for our children:
Revised Standard Version
Then they came near to him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and cities for our little ones,
Then they came near to him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and cities for our little ones,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
Contextual Overview
16They came close to him and said, "All we want to do is build corrals for our livestock and towns for our families. Then we'll take up arms and take the front lines, leading the People of Israel to their place. We'll be able to leave our families behind, secure in fortified towns, safe from those who live in the land. But we won't go back home until every Israelite is in full possession of his inheritance. We won't expect any inheritance west of the Jordan; we are claiming all our inheritance east of the Jordan." 20Moses said, "If you do what you say, take up arms before God for battle and together go across the Jordan ready, before God , to fight until God has cleaned his enemies out of the land, then when the land is secure you will have fulfilled your duty to God and Israel. Then this land will be yours to keep before God . 23"But if you don't do what you say, you will be sinning against God ; you can be sure that your sin will track you down. So, go ahead. Build towns for your families and corrals for your livestock. Do what you said you'd do." 25The families of Gad and Reuben told Moses: "We will do as our master commands. Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will stay behind here in the towns of Gilead. But we, every one of us fully armed, will cross the river to fight for God , just as our master has said."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
This proposal was very equitable, and it was honestly made and faithfully executed; though it did not imply that all men capable of bearing arms should go, and so leave their families and possessions defenceless, but only a sufficient detachment of them. Among the inhabitants of the land were the Ammonites, Moabites, Idumeans, and the remains of the Midianites and Amorites; and as it was impossible for the women and children to keep the defenced cities, when placed in them, many of the men of war must of course stay behind. In the last census - Numbers 26:1, the tribe of Reuben consisted of 43,730 men; the tribe of Gad 40,500; and the tribe of Manasseh 52,700; the half of which is 26,350; which together amount to 110,580. Now from Joshua 4:13, we learn, that of these tribes only 40,000 armed men passed over Jordan to assist their brethren: consequently 70,580 men were left behind for the defence of the women, the children, and the flocks: which was amply sufficient for this purpose. Numbers 34:22, Genesis 33:17
Reciprocal: Numbers 32:24 - General Deuteronomy 33:21 - the first part
Cross-References
Genesis 32:9
And then Jacob prayed, "God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, God who told me, ‘Go back to your parents' homeland and I'll treat you well.' I don't deserve all the love and loyalty you've shown me. When I left here and crossed the Jordan I only had the clothes on my back, and now look at me—two camps! Save me, please, from the violence of my brother, my angry brother! I'm afraid he'll come and attack us all, me, the mothers and the children. You yourself said, ‘I will treat you well; I'll make your descendants like the sands of the sea, far too many to count.'"
And then Jacob prayed, "God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, God who told me, ‘Go back to your parents' homeland and I'll treat you well.' I don't deserve all the love and loyalty you've shown me. When I left here and crossed the Jordan I only had the clothes on my back, and now look at me—two camps! Save me, please, from the violence of my brother, my angry brother! I'm afraid he'll come and attack us all, me, the mothers and the children. You yourself said, ‘I will treat you well; I'll make your descendants like the sands of the sea, far too many to count.'"
Matthew 10:16
"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.
"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And they came near unto him,.... 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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Numbers 32:16. 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 defence 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.
