And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.
Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and Machir dwelt there. The grant stands in Moses' dealing with the two and a half tribes that proposed to remain and settle on the east side of the Jordan. Their settlement east of the Jordan belonged to the account of those tribes choosing to live there rather than advancing with the rest.
Moses feared that by settling there they would depart from God and fail to fulfill their solemn vows. He knew that such failure would bring upon themselves lasting sorrow and final ruin. For this reason the solemn warning that their sin would certainly find them out was addressed to those tribes. The chapter is an example of Israel being ready to advance while some chose to remain east of the Jordan, a choice that could discourage the rest and delay their progress.
Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and Machir dwelt there. The grant stands in Moses' dealing with the two and a half tribes that proposed to remain and settle on the east side of the Jordan. Their settlement east of the Jordan belonged to the account of those tribes choosing to live there rather than advancing with the rest.
Moses feared that by settling there they would depart from God and fail to fulfill their solemn vows. He knew that such failure would bring upon themselves lasting sorrow and final ruin. For this reason the solemn warning that their sin would certainly find them out was addressed to those tribes. The chapter is an example of Israel being ready to advance while some chose to remain east of the Jordan, a choice that could discourage the rest and delay their progress.