And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.

NUMBERS 32:33KJV
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Numbers 32:33 (KJV)

What does Numbers 32:33 mean?

Numbers 32:33 describes how Moses gave land east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh. This land included the former kingdoms of Sihon and Og, along with their cities and surrounding territories.

In this verse, Moses is acting as the leader of Israel, formally granting these lands to the mentioned tribes after they requested to settle there instead of crossing into Canaan with the rest of Israel. The verse lists the specific groups receiving land and names the regions and cities included, showing a transfer of territory that had belonged to defeated Amorite kings.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 32:33

  • מָשֶׁה (Mosheh, "Moses"): The verse centers on Moses as the one with authority to allocate the land, highlighting his leadership role.
  • נָתַן (nathan, "gave"): This word emphasizes that the land was not just taken but was officially granted by Moses, marking a formal and recognized transfer.
  • מַמְלָכָה (mamlakhah, "kingdom"): The use of this word for both Sihon and Og’s territories underlines that these were established regions with their own cities and borders, not just empty land.
  • עִיר (ʿir, "city") and גְּבוּל (gevul, "coasts" or "borders"): These words show that the gift included not just open land but also populated cities and their surrounding areas, indicating a complete inheritance.

Why Numbers 32:33 matters

  • Numbers 32:33 clarifies that the land east of the Jordan was given by Moses’ authority, not seized independently by the tribes, which is important for understanding Israel’s unity and leadership structure.
  • The verse connects the story to earlier battles in Numbers, reminding readers that these lands were once powerful Amorite kingdoms, now part of Israel’s inheritance.
  • By listing the specific tribes and half-tribe, Numbers 32:33 sets up later discussions about tribal boundaries and the unique situation of the Transjordan tribes throughout the rest of the Old Testament.

Where else these words appear

“coasts” Hebrew H1367 · used in 10 verses

  • Numbers 34:2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan;(this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
  • Joshua 18:20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
  • Psalms 74:17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

“Og” Hebrew H5747 · used in 22 verses

  • Numbers 21:33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
  • Deuteronomy 3:13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.
  • Joshua 13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.

“Sihon” Hebrew H5511 · used in 34 verses

  • Numbers 21:21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
  • Deuteronomy 2:31 And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
  • Joshua 13:10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

“Bashan” Hebrew H1316 · used in 53 verses

  • Numbers 21:33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
  • Joshua 13:11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
  • 1 Chronicles 6:62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.