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UTN uW Translation Notes:

Numbers 32 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

4. At the plains of Moab (22:1–36:13) * People from Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh choose to settle on the east side of the Jordan River (32:1–42) In this chapter, Moses, Joshua, Eleazar, and the Israelite leaders make an agreement with the leaders of the tribes of Gad and Reuben. This agreement specifies that the soldiers from Gad and Reuben must help the rest of the Israelites conquer the land west of the Jordan River. However, once that is done, the people of Gad and Reuben receive land on the east side of the Jordan River. The chapter also briefly recounts some people from Manasseh who also conquered and received land on the east side of the Jordan River.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Land on the east side and west side of the Jordan River

The land of Canaan itself was on the west side of the Jordan River. However, the Israelites conquered some land on the east side of the Jordan River. People from Gad, Reuben, and part of the tribe of Manasseh wanted to receive this land on the east side of the Jordan. Moses initially rejects their desire, but eventually he allows them to receive this land as long as they help the rest of the Israelites conquer the land of Canaan on the west side of the Jordan River.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

What did the Reubenites and Gadites request?

When the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad request land on the east side of the Jordan River, they do not specify exactly what they mean. They may mean that they will settle in that land and refuse to help the rest of the Israelites conquer Canaan. This is what Moses thinks they mean. They may mean that they will settle in that land but will still help the rest of the Israelites conquer Canaan. This is what they offer in response to Moses’ rejection of their initial request. If possible, you should preserve this ambiguity in your translation of their initial request.

Quotes in quotes

In [32:11–12](../32/11.md), there is a quote inside a quote. Consider how your language indicates that a quote contains a quote. The UST models how to express the idea with only one level of quotations. (See: figs-quotesinquotes)

Timing of events

The events that the author narrates in [32:39–42](../32/39.md) almost certainly did not happen after the events narrated earlier in the chapter. They probably happened sometime around the events narrated in Numbers 21. Additionally, each specific battle that the author narrates may have happened at the same time or a in a different sequence. Consider how you can introduce these events so that it is clear they do not follow the previous events in chronological sequence. (See: figs-events)

Parallel NUM 32:0