Numbers 32:16

Numbers 32:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
• New King James Version (NKJV)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 (NLT)But they approached Moses and said, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.

Context of Numbers 32:16

14“And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.” Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. 17But we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.

Numbers 32:16 word by word

וַיִּגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ וַ֣יֹּאמְר֔וּ גִּדְרֹ֥ת צֹ֛אן נִבְנֶ֥ה לְמִקְנֵ֖נוּ פֹּ֑ה וְעָרִ֖ים לְטַפֵּֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they came nearנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• unto him, and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• We will buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• sheepfoldsצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• sheepfoldsגְּדֵרָהgedêrâh · wallH1448
• here for our cattleמִקְנֶהmiqneh · livestockH4735
• and citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• for our little onesטַףţaph · childH2945

Cross-references for Numbers 32:16

• Joshua 4:13About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for war.
• Genesis 34:22But the men will agree to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are.
• Genesis 33:17Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth.

Commentaries on Numbers 32:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16We 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 defense 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-27Verses 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 or disputing. All men ought to consider the interests of others as well as their own; the law of love requires us to labour, venture, or suffer 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 land of Canaan, and that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-19The Reubenites and Gadites assured Moses that they would not discourage their fellow Israelites and would support the war to its very end. There were still dangers east of the Jordan River, so they wanted to keep their livestock and families safe.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-196-19. Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here--Their language was ambiguous; and Moses, suspicious that this proposal was an act of unbelief, a scheme of self-policy and indolence to escape the perils of warfare and live in ease and safety, addressed to them a reproachful and passionate remonstrance. Whether they had really meditated such a withdrawal from all share in the war…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 32:16

• Gad
• Gilead
• Haste
• Misjudgment
• Motive
• Shepherd
• Uncharitableness

In the dictionaries

• Destroy
• Discourage
• Fold
• Herdsman
• Ready
• Sit
• Gad (1)
• Moses
• Numbers, Book of
• Reuben

Commentaries on Numbers 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings