Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 32:3
Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
3. All these names recur in Num 32:34-38, three of them in a slightly different form (see R.V. marg.). Beon is probably a mere scribal slip for Meon.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See Num 32:34-38 notes.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Ataroth, and Dibon, &c.] The places mentioned here belonged to Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, which being conquered by the Israelites, constituted ever after a part of their territories, Nu 32:33.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Ataroth; different from that Ataroth, Jos 16:2,7, which was on the other side of Jordan.
Nimrah, called Beth-nimrah, Num 22:36; Jos 13:27; and the waters of Nimrim, Isa 15:6. Shebam, called Shibmah, Num 32:38.
Beon which is thought to be the same place called Baal-meon, Num 32:38, and Beth-meon, Jer 48:23.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Ataroth, Dibon, and Jazer,…. These were places which belonged to the Amorites, and were taken from Sihon, their king: of Ataroth we read nowhere else but in this chapter; of Dibon see
Isa 15:2, Jazer was a city, from whence the land about it had its name; it is the same with Jaazer, Nu 21:32 and stood about fifteen miles from Heshbon k, the capital city of the kingdom of Sihon:
and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon; these were all places in the same country; of Heshbon see
Nu 21:25, Nimrah is the same with Bethnimrah, Nu 32:36 and sometimes called Nimrim, famous for its water, Isa 15:6. Jerom says l the name of it in his time was Benamerium, and lay to the north of Zoar; Elealeh, according to the same writer m was but a mile from Heshbon, of which see Isa 15:4. Shebam is the same with Shibmah, Nu 32:36, and seems to be a place famous for vines,
Isa 16:8; it is thought to be the same with the Seba of Ptolemy n, and according to Jerom o, there were scarce five hundred paces between this place and Heshbon; Nebo, the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call the grave of Moses, because on a mountain of this name Moses died, and where it is supposed he was buried; but it is certain he was buried not on a mountain, but in a valley, De 34:6, this perhaps had its name from the mountain near which it was, and of which see Isa 15:2. Beon is the same that is called Baalmeon, Nu 32:38 and Bethbaalmeon, Jos 13:17, where was very probably a temple of Baal; it was about nine miles from Heshbon p.
k Jerom. de loc. Heb. fol. 92. G. l lbid. K. m Ibid. fol. 91. A. n Geograph. l. 5. c. 19. o Comment. in Esaiam, c. 16. 8. p Eusebius apud Reland: Palest. Illustr. par. 2. l. 3. p. 611.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In Num 32:3 the country is more distinctly defined by the introduction of the names of a number of important towns, whilst the clause “the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel,” in which the defeat of Sihon is referred to, describes it as one that was without a ruler, and therefore could easily be taken possession of. For more minute remarks as to the towns themselves, see at Num 32:34. On the construction , see at Gen 4:18. – The words, “ let us not go over the Jordan,” may be understood as expressing nothing more than the desire of the speakers not to receive their inheritance on the western side of the Jordan, without their having any intention of withdrawing their help from the other tribes in connection with the conquest of Canaan, according to their subsequent declaration (Num 32:16.); but they may also be understood as expressing a wish to settle at once in the land to the east of the Jordan, and leave the other tribes to conquer Canaan alone. Moses understood them in the latter sense (Num 32:6.), and it is probable that this was their meaning, as, when Moses reproved them, the speakers did not reply that they had not cherished the intention attributed to them, but simply restricted themselves to the promise of co-operation in the conquest of Canaan. But even in this sense their request did not manifest “ a shamelessness that would hardly be historically true” ( Knobel). It may very well be explained from the opinion which they cherished, and which is perfectly intelligible after the rapid and easy defeat of the two mighty kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, that the remaining tribes were quite strong enough to conquer the land of Canaan on the west of the Jordan. But for all that, the request of the Reubenites and Gadites did indicate an utter want of brotherly feeling, and complete indifference to the common interests of the whole nation, so that they thoroughly deserved the reproof which they received from Moses.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
3. Ataroth Hebrew, crowns. There were several cities of this name.
This was probably in the land of Jazer. It has not been identified.
Dibon Jos 13:17, note. Nimrah occurs only here. Modern research has not yet identified it. There are several places east of the Jordan whose names resemble this.
Heshbon Jos 13:17, note.
Elealeh The extensive ruins of this place are still to be seen, bearing very nearly their ancient name, El-A’al, signifying the high, about a mile north of Heshbon on the summit of a rounded hill. Shebam is probably the same as Shibmah, Num 32:38, and Sibmah, Jos 13:19, note.
Nebo This town was rebuilt by Reuben. It does not occur in the list of his towns (Jos 13:15-23) unless it be under another name, as is intimated in Num 32:38. Nebo being the name of a heathen god would naturally be changed after its conquest by Israel.
Beon Baal-meon, Num 32:38, changed, probably to eliminate the pagan association, to Beth-meon, Jer 48:23. It was Moabite in Ezekiel’s day, and named as one of the cities which are “the glory of the country.” The site is still known. “Taking a sweep on the fine turf to the south-east,” (from Heshbon,) says Tristram, “we passed by the ruins of Ma’in, (Baal-meon,) shapeless and featureless, at which a cursory glance was sufficient.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 32:3. Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, &c. All these towns belonged to the territories of Sihon and Og, and lay on the east side of Jordan. There was another Ataroth within the land of Canaan. Jos 5:7. Nimrah, called Bethnimra in the 36th verse, and Jos 13:27 signifies, according to Bochart, the habitation of leopards, probably from its neighbourhood to those mountains which leopards frequented; for we find mention in those parts of the mountains of leopards. Son 4:8. We may observe in general, that it is usual in Hebrew to cut off the former part of proper names; as Salem for Jerusalem, Psa 76:2. Lehi for Ramath-lehi, Jdg 15:17; Jdg 15:19, &c. For Heshbon, see chap. Num 21:26, &c.Shebam, called Shibmah, Num 32:38 and Sibmah, Isa 16:8-9. Jer 48:32 appears from those passages to have been a place famous for vines; and in the days of Jeremiah was fallen into the hands of the Moabites, as were Heshbon and Elealeh. Nebo, mentioned also Num 32:38 was situated near Dibon and Kirjathaim, as appears from Jer 48:1 who mentions it when it was fallen again into the hands of the Moabites. Nebo signifies prophecy, or divination; and this name is thought to have been given to the place, because the Moabites had there built a temple and oracle to one of their gods, probably the same who is called Nebo, Isa 46:1 and who was so considerable a divinity among the heathens, that he entered into the composition of many great names among the Babylonlans; as Nebuchadnezzar, Nebu-zaradan, Nabonassar: Beon is thought to be the same which is called Baal-meon in Num 32:38 and Beth-meon, Jer 48:33. It was probably a place where Baal was worshipped. It is called, Jos 13:17. Beth-baalmeon; i.e. the house, or temple of Baal-meon.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Ataroth, &c. These were the places in the countries of Sihon and Og, on the east of Jordan. Compare Jos 16:2, Jos 16:5, Jos 16:7.
Dibon. Compare Num 21:30. Jos 13:9, Jos 13:17.
Nimrah. Called Beth-nimrah, Num 32:36, and Nimrim. Isa 15:6. Compare Jos 13:27.
Heshbon. Num 21:26. Jos 13:17.
Shebam. Called Shibmah, Num 32:38. Compare Jos 13:19, Isa 16:8, Isa 16:9. Jer 48:32.
Beon. Called Baal-meon, Num 32:38; Beth-meon, Jer 48:23; and Bethbaal- meon, Jos 13:17.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ataroth: Num 32:1, Num 32:34-38, Jos 13:17, Isa 15:2-4, Jer 48:22, Jer 48:23
Nimrah: Num 32:36, Beth-nimrah, Isa 15:6, Nimrim
Heshbon: Num 21:25, Num 21:26, Num 21:28, Jdg 11:26, Neh 9:22, Isa 15:4, Isa 16:8, Isa 16:9, Jer 48:2, Jer 48:34, Jer 48:45
Shebam: Num 32:38, Shibmah, Jos 13:19, Isa 16:8, Jer 48:32, Sibmah
Beon: Num 32:38, Baal-meon
Reciprocal: Num 26:54 – many Num 32:35 – Jaazer Num 32:37 – Heshbon Deu 11:29 – General Jos 13:27 – Bethnimrah Jos 21:39 – Jazer 2Sa 24:5 – Jazer 1Ch 5:8 – Nebo 1Ch 6:81 – Jazer Ezr 2:29 – Nebo Jer 48:1 – Nebo Jer 48:18 – Dibon