Numbers 32:1-42
The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon— the land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?
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. But 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. We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance. We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”
“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”
The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim, as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.
The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there. So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there. Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair. And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.
Why?
Moses thought they didn't cross the Joden River with other Israelites, but they didn't, They promised they would arm themselves and across Jordan River with their people until they got the promised land.
To be a fighting man should not worry backyard, the home, and family. So after attacking their family Reubenites and Gadites may focus on their target to fight with their brothers.
Even though they had landed in the east of Jordan, they were away from the promised land, so their territory was lost early because they forgot the Lord.
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對這兩個半支派評價比較不高。因為看到現在的地比較好！這塊土地很有增值的潛力，發展的好機會。他們不要約旦河西岸的土地，不確定比現在的好。不確信應許之地更好。沒有意志全力走神的道路。
神在年輕時不用摩西，而是在他什麼都沒有時，跟隨主的道路，就是要豁出去的心，不為自己留後路。如此才能專心走主的道路。
他們看到眼前的好處。安於現狀，比較放心，有安全感。抓住眼前的再跟隨主！
會與其他支派一起打仗，走在前面：為自己沒有信心合理化，為沒有信心合理化。
與神的關係不是沒有罪就好了，而是積極跟隨主，生命不再成長就會枯萎凋零！
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How?
The profit before the eyes doesn't mean good to us and our inheritance. Only the promise land of the Lord may keep forever.
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