August 8, 2011 – Numbers 32

Here we have the compromise for the land on the other side of the Jordan. You can imagine what the other tribes were thinking when they heard this idea. We want this land that is already taken, we don’t need any of the land that still needs to be conquered. From what we read, it is hard to tell if their motivation was completely selfish or if they just had the most livestock and thought it was the best place for them. Obviously Moses sees it as purely selfish and relates them to the original Israelites who caused the 40 years in the desert. I don’t think he wants to do that again. So, this is the second instance where we see the new generation has not really understood or learned from the lessons of the one that has past. We have them asking for water and Moses hitting the rock, and here we have the cowards not wanting to fight. But they work it all out and agree to fight, but be allowed to keep this land and not take any on the other side.