Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 3:18
And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all [that are] meet for the war.
18. And I commanded you ] Them would be more natural, which some read; retain you, a symptom of the want of absolute preciseness in the writer’s style.
armed ] It is doubtful whether that is the original meaning of the Heb. word or with loins girt, or stripped of superfluous clothing, expeditus; the same word in Num 32:21 ff. (JE?): P also uses it but with a following noun id. 27, 29 and Jos 4:13.
children of Israel ] Not deuteronomic. See on Deu 4:44.
all the men of valour ] Heb. sons of strength or valour. Like our force the Heb. ail is also used for army, but with the article (e.g. 2Sa 24:2), which does not occur in this phrase. The meaning is all capable of bearing arms.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
18 22. Directions to the Two-and-a-Half Tribes and to Joshua
At that time Moses charged the two-and-a-half tribes to send their warriors over Jordan till the conquest there was completed, leaving their families and cattle in the cities already given them (18 20). At that time, too, he charged Joshua (21 f.). To the charge to the two-and-a-half tribes the parallel is Num 32:16-32, which says that Reuben and Gad (these alone) offered to send their warriors to the W. campaign after building or fortifying cities for their children, and folds for their cattle E. of Jordan; and that Moses enforced this plan with threats of disaster if it was not carried out. Of this composite passage various analyses have been made; all that is clear is that JE narrated some such episode. To the charge to Joshua, at that time, the Pent has no parallel. On the ground that it anticipates 28 f. and Deu 31:7 ff. it is removed by some after Deu 3:28, where indeed it is suitable, but by others has been taken to be no original part of the First Discourse by Moses. Yet the Discourse is not so compact and free of repetition that we need deny to its author such an anticipation of his own words; nor would it be surprising that in the traditions with which he worked there were recorded more than one charge to Joshua or at least several emphases of the fact that Joshua was exhorted by Moses; cp. Deu 1:38. On the mixed forms of address, thou and you, see notes below.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I commanded you, to wit, the Reubenites and Gadites, mentioned Deu 3:16, to whom he now turns his speech by an apostrophe.
Meet for the war; in such number as your brethren shall judge necessary. See Jos 1:14; 4:13.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And I commanded you at that time,…. Not all Israel, but the tribes of Reuben and God, and the half tribe of Manasseh; for what follows only concerns them:
saying, the Lord your God hath given you this land to possess it; the land before described, lately in the hands of Sihon and Og; this at their request Moses gave them, by the direction of the Lord, on the following condition:
you shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all [that] are meet for the war; that is, they should pass over Jordan with the rest of the tribes, being armed to assist them in the conquest of Canaan: for this phrase, which we render “before your brethren”, does not signify that they went in the forefront of them, only that they were present with them, and joined them in their war against their enemies; see Nu 32:29 and therefore should be rendered “with your brethren” a; even as many of them as were able to bear arms, at least as many as Joshua would choose to take of them; for he did not take them all by a great many; see Jos 4:13.
a “cum fratribus vestris”, Noldius, p. 531, No. 1492.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 18-20:
The text contains Moses’ injunction to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. They desired the territory east of the Jordan as their inheritance. God granted their request, but placed certain conditions upon them, see Numbers chapter 32, especially verses 20-33.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18. And I commanded you at that time. This address is directed only to those to whom an inheritance was given on the other side of Jordan; but Moses declares that he had introduced an agreement that the two tribes and a half should not enjoy their possession until they had accommpanied their brethren in the subjugation of the land of Canaan. He says, therefore, that he had given them a place, not where they were at once to settle themselves, but where they might deposit their wives and cattle, until the whole people were peaceably established in their land.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
9. WARNING AGAINST SETTLING DOWN PREMATURELY (Deu. 3:18-20)
18 And I commanded you at that time, saying, Jehovah your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valor. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you, 20 until Jehovah give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which Jehovah your God giveth them beyond the Jordan: then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:1820
60.
How sad to possess so little when we could conquer so much. Did the 2 tribes fulfill their part of the agreement? Cf. Jos. 4:12-13. What about the 9 tribes? Cf. Jos. 13:1.
61.
Besides the lack of faith, what one thing contributed most to the failure to conquer?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 3:1820
18 And I commanded you at that time, saying, The Lord your God has given you this land to possess it; you [Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh] shall go over [the Jordan] armed before your brethren the other Israelites, all that are able for war.
19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle (I know that you have many cattle) shall remain in your cities which I have given you,
20 Until the Lord has given rest to your brethren, as to you, and until they also possess the land which the Lord your God has given them beyond Jordan; then shall you return every man to his possession, which I have given you.
COMMENT 3:1820
This is the command to the east-side tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. See also Num. 32:16-27. They were to go over the Jordan and assist their brethren in exterminating the Canaanite tribes before returning to their families on the east. But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against Jehovah; and be sure your sin will find you out (Num. 32:23). These men complied with the order (Jos. 4:12-13) but Israel did not fully expel the native people before these men returned. When Joshua was old and well stricken in years, there still remaineth yet very much land to be possessed (Jos. 13:1).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(18, 19) This is a summary of the agreement made and described in Num. 32:20-32. (See also Note on Jos. 1:12.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18-20. Moses herein reminds the people of the conditions under which the territory spoken of had been given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. Comp. Num 32:20-32.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Charge To The Two and a Half Tribes Settling In Transjordan ( Deu 3:18-22 ).
The great victories over Sihon and Og having been described, along with the giving of their land to the two and a half tribes of Israel, the charge is now given for the advancement on the land proper. It is given, first to the two and a half tribes in response to their reception of their land, and then to Joshua on behalf of all the people.
When Moses had agreed that the land west of the Jordan which had been taken from the Amorites should be given to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh , it was on condition that their warriors of over twenty years of age would pass over Jordan with their fellow-Israelites to assist in settling the land (Numbers 32). He now charged them to be faithful to that promise.
This passage may be analysed as follows:
Yahweh has given Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh their land to possess it (Deu 3:18 a).
a They were commanded that, having been given their land, all their men of valour must pass over armed before the children of Israel when they enter Canaan (Deu 3:18).
b Meanwhile their wives, little ones (children under twenty) and cattle (of which they have much) will abide in the cities that they have been given in Transjordan (Deu 3:19).
c And this is to be until the other nine and a half tribes are also given rest by Yahweh (Deu 3:20 a).
c And possess their land in Beyond Jordan westwards (Deu 3:20 b).
b Then they may return every man to his possession which they have been given (Deu 3:20 c).
a Joshua is informed that what Yahweh has done to the two kings, so He will do to all the kingdoms in the place where they are going over the Jordan, and they need not fear for it is Yahweh Who fights for them (Deu 3:21-22).
Note that in ‘a’ it was Yahweh Who gave their land to the two and a half tribes so that they could possess it, and in the parallel it is confirmed that He will do the same beyond the Jordan. In ‘b’ their families will settle in to their new cities, and in the parallel when the conquest is completed their menfolk can return to the land of their possessions. In ‘c’ the remainder of the tribes are also to be ‘given rest’ and in the parallel they are to possess their land.
Deu 3:18
‘ And I commanded you at that time, saying, “Yahweh your God has given you this land to possess it. You shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valour.’
In return for Yahweh giving them the land west of Jordan, the ‘men of valour’ of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh were to pass over Jordan ahead of their brothers the children if Israel. That is, they were to go forward ready for battle, along with the fighting men, ‘the men of valour’ of the remaining tribes.
Deu 3:19-20
‘ But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that you have much cattle), shall abide in your cities which I have given you, until Yahweh give rest to your brethren, as to you, and they also possess the land which Yahweh your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then shall you return every man to his possession, which I have given you.’
Meanwhile their womenfolk and youngsters, together with their cattle, would settle the land and take possession of it. Protection would be afforded by Yahweh watching over them, by those under twenty able to fight, and by the older men who would be considered too old for battle, but would still be able to fight and defend cities if called on. Once all the tribes had found rest in the land they would then be able to return to the land of their possession (compare Jos 22:9). The dangers would not be too great. Their neighbours Edom. Moab and Ammon had had plenty of opportunity to see the victorious nature of the Israelite army and would hesitate to bring their wrath down on themselves.
By this Moses emphasised to them the need for them all to work together if they were to achieve their object of peace and security in the land. It was also a statement of confidence that their aim would be achieved. It was not a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’. He was seeking to build up confidence and loyalty.
“I know that you have much cattle.” They had brought cattle through the wilderness, but these had been hugely added to by the conquests of Sihon and Og (Deu 2:35; Deu 3:7). This was already a sign of how Yahweh was providing for His people in readiness for their entry into the land, further evidence that He was intending to carry His purposes through. To have much cattle was to the ancients’ the sign of being wealthy.
We learn from all this that if we are faithful to God all our enemies will finally be thwarted, and as a result we will enjoy great spiritual wealth. However great our enemies may seem none will finally be able to stand against God.
The Charge To Joshua ( Deu 3:21-22 )
Note the combination of singular and plural verbs. The charge to Joshua is a charge to all the people.
Deu 3:21-22
‘ And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, “Your (thy) eyes have seen all that Yahweh your (of ye) God has done to these two kings. So shall Yahweh do to all the kingdoms to which you (thou) go over. You shall not fear them, for Yahweh your (of ye) God, he it is who fights for you.”
He then applied the lesson of the two kings of the Amorites, which he had previously applied to Joshua, to his hearers. They are to remember what God did with respect to those two kings and their armies. He had brought about their total defeat and extinction. So would Yahweh their God do to all against whom they had to fight in the land as they conducted their holy war. They need not fear them, because Yahweh would be fighting for them. For through them He was bringing his judgment on those nations.
Joshua is naturally spoken of as ‘thou’, but this immediately moves to ‘your (of ye)’ as his people are brought to mind.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 3:18-22
18Then I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The LORD your God has given you this land to possess it; all you valiant men shall cross over armed before your brothers, the sons of Israel. 19But your wives and your little ones and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you, 20until the LORD gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God will give them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return every man to his possession which I have given you.’ 21I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so the LORD shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. 22Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.’
Deu 3:18 The LORD your God has given you this land This refers to the eastern bank (trans-Jordan) of the Arabah.
shall cross over armed before your brothers Because Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh settled on the eastern side of the Jordan which had already been conquered, they were now to go into battle first and fight for their brothers’ land (cf. Deu 3:19-20) before they could settle in their own.
Deu 3:19 much livestock The much livestock which they had were the spoils of war both from (1) Egypt and (2) the trans-Jordan nations.
which I have given you The source of all blessings is God (the often used VERB given BDB 678, KB 733, Qal PERFECT). They had not earned the spoils of war themselves.
Deu 3:20 the LORD gives rest to your fellow countrymen The book of Hebrews is the best NT commentary on the Pentateuch. In Hebrews 4, the word rest is used three ways:
1. a seventh day rest as God rested after creation, the Sabbath
2. the Israelites rested after they conquered the Promised Land (cf. Deu 12:10; Deu 25:19; Jos 23:1)
3. heaven, the eternal seventh-day rest
Here rest refers to security, #2.
Deu 3:21 Because of YHWH’s provision in the wilderness and victories in the trans-Jordan, the Israelis are to trust Him and march on!
Deu 3:22 the LORD your God is the one fighting for you This is not human effort, skills, or resources, but God’s power (cf. Deu 1:30; Deu 20:4; Exo 14:14; Exo 15:3).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
I commanded. See Num 32:20-24.
meet for the war. Hebrew = sons of valour. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Noun), App-6= valiant men. Emphasis on valiant. Compare 2Sa 2:7. 1Ki 1:52.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I commanded: Num 32:20-24, Jos 1:12-15, Jos 4:12, Jos 4:13, Jos 22:1-9
meet for the war: Heb. sons of power
Reciprocal: Num 1:3 – able Num 32:17 – General Deu 9:1 – to pass Jos 1:13 – Remember
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 3:18. I commanded you Namely, the Reubenites and Gadites. All that are meet In such number as your brethren shall judge necessary. They were in all above a hundred thousand. Forty thousand of them went over Jordan before their brethren.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Deu 3:18-20. The E. Jordan tribes had promised to help the others to conquer the territory W. of the Jordan (Num 32:28-32*).
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
3:18 And I commanded {g} you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all [that are] meet for the war.
(g) That is, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half Manasseh, as in Num 32:32.