16 And they come nigh unto him, and say, 'Folds for the flock we build for our cattle here, and cities for our infants; 17 and we—we are armed hasting before the sons of Israel till that we have brought them in unto their place; and our infants have dwelt in the cities of defence because of the inhabitants of the land; 18 we do not turn back unto our houses till the sons of Israel have inherited each his inheritance, 19 for we do not inherit with them beyond the Jordan and yonder, for our inheritance hath come unto us beyond the Jordan at the 'sun'-rising.' 20 And Moses saith unto them, 'If ye do this thing: if ye are armed before Jehovah for battle, 21 and every armed one of you hath passed over the Jordan before Jehovah, till his dispossessing His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land hath been subdued before Jehovah—then afterwards ye do turn back, and have been acquitted by Jehovah, and by Israel; and this land hath been to you for a possession before Jehovah. 23 'And if ye do not so, lo, ye have sinned against Jehovah, and know ye your sin, that it doth find you; 24 build for yourselves cities for your infants, and folds for your flock, and that which is going out from your mouth do ye.' 25 And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben speak unto Moses, saying, 'Thy servants do as my lord is commanding; 26 our infants, our wives, our cattle, and all our beasts, are there in cities of Gilead, 27 and thy servants pass over, every armed one of the host, before Jehovah, to battle, as my lord is saying.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 32:16-27
Commentary on Numbers 32:16-27
(Read Numbers 32:16-27)
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 they should not return till the conquest of Canaan was ended. Moses grants their request, but he warns them of the danger of breaking their word. If you fail, you sin against the Lord, and not against your brethren only; God will certainly reckon with you for it. Be sure your sin will find you out. Sin will surely find out the sinner sooner or later. It concerns us now to find our sins out, that we may repent of them, and forsake them, lest they find us out to our ruin.