Study Desk

So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

And Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.

But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for the LORD'S heave offering.

And we have brought the LORD'S oblation, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, earrings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before the LORD.

(For the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;

the land which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle.

And they said, If we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; bring us not over Jordan.

For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

For we will not inherit with them on the other side Jordan, and forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

and the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless towards the LORD, and towards Israel; and this land shall be unto you for a possession before the LORD.

Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

but thy servants will pass over, every man that is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.

And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man that is armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:

and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran: fenced cities, and folds for sheep.