28 So Moses issued orders for them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the ancestral tribes of the People of Israel. 29 Moses said, "If the families of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan River with you and before God, all armed and ready to fight, then after the land is secure, you may give them the land of Gilead as their inheritance. 30 But if they don't cross over with you, they'll have to settle up with you in Canaan." 31 The families of Gad and Reuben responded: "We will do what God has said. 32 We will cross the Jordan before God, ready and willing to fight. But the land we inherit will be here, to the east of the Jordan."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 32:28-32
Commentary on Numbers 32:28-42
(Read Numbers 32:28-42)
Concerning the settlement of these tribes, observe, that they built the cities, that is, repaired them. They changed the names of them; probably they were idolatrous, therefore they should be forgotten. A spirit of selfishness, of seeking our own, not the things of Christ, when each one ought to assist others, is as dangerous as it is common. It is impossible to be sincere in the faith, sensible of the goodness of God, constrained by the love of Christ, sanctified by the power of the Holy Ghost, and yet be indifferent to the progress of religion, and the spiritual success of others, through love of ease, or fear of conflict. Let then your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.