Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 3:16
And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon;
16. And unto the Reubenites, etc.] Since this verse repeats what is already stated, it also is regarded as secondary. ‘The language of 16, however, is harmonious with that of Deu 2:36, and it is possible that this sequence represents the older form of the narrative, before the incorporation of the account of Og, for there seems no reason why an editorial expounder should thus imperfectly reproduce statements already made.’ ( Oxf. Hex., ii. 252.)
the middle of the valley for a border ] That is, the exact border was not the edge, but the stream-bed of the wdy.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The sense is that the Reubenites and Gadites were to possess the district from the Jabbok on the north to the Arnon on the south, including the middle part of the valley of the Arnon, and the territory (coast or border) thereto pertaining.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Half the valley, or rather to the middle of the river; for the word rendered half signifies commonly middle; and the same Hebrew word signifying both a valley and a brook or river, it seems more reasonable to understand it of a river, as the same word is here rendered in the next foregoing clause of this verse, than of a valley, which was not mentioned before, especially seeing there is here an article added which seems to be emphatical, and to note that river, to wit, now mentioned. Add to this, that there was no such valley, much less any half valley, belonging both unto the Reubenites and Gadites. But according to the other translation the sense is plain and agreeable to the truth, that their land extended from Gilead unto Aroer, and, to speak exactly, to the middle of that river; for as that river was the border between them and others, so one half of it belonged to them, as the other half did to others. And that this is no subtle device, as some may think it, but the truth of the thing, and the real meaning of the place, will appear by comparing this place with two others:
1. With Jos 12:2, where the same thing is expressed in the same words in the Hebrew which are here, though our translators render the selfsame words there from the middle of the river, which here they render half of the valley; and where the bounds of Sihons kingdom, which was the same portion there mentioned as given to Reuben and Gad, are thus described, from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river of Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon.
2. With Deu 2:36, From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, or rather, as the Hebrew hath it, in the river, i.e. from Ar, which was the chief city of the Moabites, and therefore denied to the Israelites, as is here implied, and more fitly expressed, Deu 2:9, which city was seated in an island in the middle of the river. So that here we have a just and full reason why the border of this land given to Reuben and Gad is so nicely and critically described there, even to the middle of a river, which although in truth and strictness it be the bound of those lands which are divided by a river, yet is not usually expressed in the description of borders, either in Scripture or other authors, because here was an eminent city of the Moabites in the middle of this river, which by this curious and exact description is excepted from their possession, as God would have it to be. And the border even unto the river Jabbok: the meaning seems to be this, and the border, to wit, of their land, was, which verb substantive is commonly understood, or went forth, (as the phrase is, Jos 15:6,7, &c.,) from thence, to wit, from the river Arnon, even unto the river Jabbok, for so indeed their border did proceed. Which is the border of the children of Ammon. Object. This was the border between them and the Manassites, as is evident, and therefore not the border of the Ammonites.
Answ. It bordered upon the Manassites in one part, and upon the Ammonites in another part, to wit, in that part which is remoter from Jordan, and so both are true.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. from Gileadthat is, notthe mountainous region, but the town Ramoth-gilead,
even unto the river Arnonhalf the valleyThe word “valley” signifies a wady,either filled with water or dry, as the Arnon is in summer, and thusthe proper rendering of the passage will be”even to the halfor middle of the river Arnon” (compare Jos12:2). This prudent arrangement of the boundaries was evidentlymade to prevent all disputes between the adjacent tribes about theexclusive right to the water.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And unto the Reubenites, and unto the Gadites,…. The tribes of Reuben and Gad:
I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon: see De 3:12
half the valley and the border; or rather half the river, the river Arnon; and so it is rendered “the middle of the river”, in Jos 12:2 and so here the middle of the torrent by the Vulgate Latin and Septuagint versions, and by Onkelos:
even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; beyond which the land given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad reached not; see De 2:37.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(16, 17) And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave.The circumstances are detailed in Numbers 32. They desired the land for their cattle.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16, 17. Reubenites Gadites The territory allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad is more fully described. They were to have Gilead to the south of the Jabbok as far as the Arnon to the middle of the valley. (The gorge or valley of the Arnon is eighty miles long and about two miles wide.) On the western side they were to have the Arabah or plain, and the bank of the Jordan from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.
Ashdoth-pisgah probably means the slopes of Pisgah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 16. Half the valley, and the border, even unto the river Jabbok Or, What is between the river and its border, as far as to the river Jabbok. Wat. Regionem intermediam. Houb. See Jos 12:2.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Deu 3:16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon;
Ver. 16. Unto the river Jabbok. ] Famous for Jacob’s wrestling with God near unto it. Gen 32:22
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reubenites: Num 32:33-38, 2Sa 24:5
river Jabbok: Deu 2:37, Gen 32:22, Num 21:24, Jos 12:2, Jos 12:3
Reciprocal: Gen 31:48 – Galeed Num 21:31 – General Jos 13:9 – Aroer Jos 22:2 – Ye have Jos 22:9 – the country of Gilead Jdg 11:13 – Jabbok
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river {f} Jabbok, [which is] the border of the children of Ammon;
(f) Which separates the Ammonites from the Amorites.