Numbers 32:16 - Tribes negotiate land settlement terms

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Hebrew Text

וַיִּגְּשׁוּ אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ גִּדְרֹת צֹאן נִבְנֶה לְמִקְנֵנוּ פֹּה וְעָרִים לְטַפֵּנוּ׃

English Translation

And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

Transliteration

Vayigshu elav vayomru gidrot tzon nivneh lemikneinu po ve'arim letapeinu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ גִּדְרֹ֥ת צֹ֛אן נִבְנֶ֥ה לְמִקְנֵ֖נוּ פֹּ֑ה וְעָרִ֖ים לְטַפֵּֽנוּ׃

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

This verse appears in Bamidbar (Numbers) 32:16, where the tribes of Reuven and Gad approach Moshe with a request to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River, outside the Land of Israel proper. Their proposal includes building sheepfolds for their livestock and cities for their children before joining the other tribes in conquering Canaan.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi comments on the phrase "גִּדְרֹת צֹאן נִבְנֶה" ("we will build sheepfolds"): The tribes emphasized their livestock first, revealing their misplaced priorities—caring more for their material possessions (mamon) than their children. This drew Moshe's rebuke later in the passage (32:24), where he reverses their wording, instructing them to first build cities for their children and only then enclosures for their sheep.

Ramban's Perspective

Ramban (Nachmanides) offers a more charitable interpretation: The tribes may have mentioned livestock first because they needed immediate grazing land, whereas building cities would take longer. However, he acknowledges that their phrasing still reflected a lack of proper mesirut nefesh (dedication) for settling Eretz Yisrael, as they sought comfort outside its borders.

Midrashic Insights

Midrash Tanchuma connects this episode to the later exile of these tribes (as recorded in Divrei Hayamim I 5:26), suggesting their initial detachment from the Land foreshadowed their eventual displacement.
Sifrei notes that their request mirrors Yaakov's similar actions (Bereishit 33:17), implying a familial tendency to prioritize economic stability over spiritual destiny.

Halachic Implications

The Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Shemitah 13:8) derives from this episode that one must always prioritize family needs over material concerns. The Chofetz Chaim expands on this, teaching that the tribes' error serves as a perpetual reminder to align one's values with Torah priorities—placing spiritual growth and family welfare above wealth accumulation.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the meaning of Numbers 32:16?
A: Numbers 32:16 describes the tribes of Reuven and Gad approaching Moshe (Moses) with a request to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River. They propose building sheepfolds for their livestock and cities for their children before joining the other tribes in conquering the land of Canaan. Rashi explains that they prioritized their livestock before their children, which Moshe later corrected (Numbers 32:24), teaching the proper priority of family over possessions.

Q: Why did the tribes of Reuven and Gad want to stay east of the Jordan?
A: The tribes of Reuven and Gad had large flocks of livestock (Numbers 32:1) and saw that the lands east of the Jordan were good for grazing. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 22:7) notes that their attachment to their possessions led them to separate themselves from the other tribes, which was problematic. Moshe agreed to their request only after they promised to help conquer Canaan first.

Q: What lesson can we learn from Numbers 32:16?
A: The verse teaches the importance of proper priorities. Initially, Reuven and Gad mentioned their livestock before their children, showing misplaced values. Moshe corrected them by reversing the order (Numbers 32:24), emphasizing that family comes before material wealth. The Talmud (Chullin 91a) also derives from this that one should always speak respectfully when making requests, as they approached Moshe politely.