Numbers 32:37
New International Version
And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim,

New Living Translation
The descendants of Reuben built the towns of Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

English Standard Version
And the people of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Berean Standard Bible
The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

King James Bible
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

New King James Version
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim,

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

NASB 1995
The sons of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kiriathaim,

NASB 1977
And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kiriathaim,

Legacy Standard Bible
And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon and Elealeh and Kiriathaim,

Amplified Bible
The sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Christian Standard Bible
The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

American Standard Version
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,

Contemporary English Version
The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

English Revised Version
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The tribe of Reuben rebuilt the cities of Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Good News Translation
The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

International Standard Version
The descendants of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Majority Standard Bible
The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

NET Bible
The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

New Heart English Bible
The people of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

World English Bible
The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons of Reuben have built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Reuben have build Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the children of Ruben built Hesebon, and Eleale, and Cariathaim,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, the sons of Ruben built up Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,

New American Bible
The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

New Revised Standard Version
And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Koriathaim,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Rubil built Kheshbon and Elala and Quryathim,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sons of Ruben built Esebon, and Eleale, and Kariatham,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Tribes East of the Jordan
36Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and they built folds for their flocks. 37The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. And they renamed the cities they rebuilt.…

Cross References
Joshua 13:17
to Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,

Joshua 21:39
Heshbon, and Jazer—four cities in all, together with their pasturelands.

1 Chronicles 6:81
Heshbon, and Jazer, together with their pasturelands.

Isaiah 15:1
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

Jeremiah 48:1
Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.

Jeremiah 48:23
upon Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,

Ezekiel 25:9
therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land.

Amos 2:2
So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

Deuteronomy 3:12-13
So at that time we took possession of this land. To the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the land beyond Aroer along the Arnon Valley, and half the hill country of Gilead, along with its cities. / To the half-tribe of Manasseh I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. (The entire region of Argob, the whole territory of Bashan, used to be called the land of the Rephaim.)

Judges 11:12-26
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?” / The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.” / Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites ...

2 Kings 10:33
from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

2 Kings 24:2
And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.

1 Chronicles 5:8
and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in Aroer and as far as Nebo and Baal-meon.

Matthew 4:25
Large crowds followed Him, having come from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Mark 5:1-20
On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes. / As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs. / This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

Heshbon

Numbers 32:3
Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

Numbers 21:27
Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

Isaiah 15:4
And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.

Eleahleh.

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Build Builders Built Children Elaleh Elealeh Elea'leh Heshbon Kiriathaim Kiriatha'im Kirjathaim Rebuilt Reuben Reubenites
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Build Builders Built Children Elaleh Elealeh Elea'leh Heshbon Kiriathaim Kiriatha'im Kirjathaim Rebuilt Reuben Reubenites
Numbers 32
1. The Reubenites and Gadites ask for inheritance on the east side of Jordan
6. Moses reproves them
16. They offer him conditions with which he is content
33. Moses assigns them the land
39. They conquer it.














The Reubenites
The Reubenites were descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. In the context of Israel's history, Reuben's tribe was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Despite Reuben's birthright as the firstborn, his tribe did not hold a prominent position among the tribes, partly due to Reuben's sin against his father (Genesis 35:22). The Reubenites' decision to settle east of the Jordan River, rather than in the Promised Land proper, reflects a choice that prioritized immediate comfort and visible prosperity over the unseen promises of God. This decision can serve as a spiritual metaphor for believers today, reminding us to prioritize God's promises over worldly allurements.

built up
The phrase "built up" indicates a process of construction or fortification. In Hebrew, the root word is "בָּנָה" (banah), which means to build or rebuild. This action signifies not only physical construction but also the establishment of a community and a way of life. For the Reubenites, building up these cities was an act of claiming and securing their inheritance. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call for believers to actively participate in building up the Kingdom of God, investing in spiritual growth and community.

Heshbon
Heshbon was a significant city in the region, originally a Moabite city before being conquered by the Amorite king Sihon. Its name means "stronghold" or "intelligence" in Hebrew. The city’s history of conquest and reconquest symbolizes the spiritual battles believers face. Just as Heshbon was a strategic location, believers are called to be vigilant and strategic in their spiritual lives, ensuring that their "strongholds" are aligned with God's purposes.

Elealeh
Elealeh, meaning "God is going up" or "God ascends," was a city located near Heshbon. The name itself is a reminder of God's sovereignty and presence. For the Reubenites, rebuilding Elealeh was not just a physical act but also a declaration of faith in God's provision and protection. In a spiritual sense, believers are encouraged to recognize God's presence in their lives, allowing Him to "ascend" in their priorities and decisions.

Kiriathaim
Kiriathaim, meaning "two cities" or "double city," suggests a place of duality or partnership. This city, like the others, was part of the territory that the Reubenites chose to inhabit. The duality implied in its name can serve as a reminder of the dual nature of the Christian life—living in the world but not being of the world. Believers are called to navigate this duality with wisdom, ensuring that their earthly lives reflect their heavenly citizenship.

Verse 37. - The children of Reuben. Reuben had, at the time of the last census, been greater in number than Gad, and had been his leader on the march. He now begins to take that secondary position which was always to be his. Of the towns which he now occupied, the Moabites recovered many, while the most important of all (Heshbon) had to be surrendered to the Levites. He was indeed compensated with the southern settlements of the Gadites as far as the Wady Hesban, but even so his limits were very straitened as compared with those of Gad and of half Manasseh. Heshbon. Cf. chapter Numbers 21:25. In Joshua 21:39; 1 Chronicles 6:81, Heshbon is spoken of as belonging to Gad. This can only be explained on the supposition that the temporary settlements of the two tribes were really intermixed, and that Heshbon, as the old capital of that region, was jointly occupied. In after times it, too, together with Elealeh and Kirjathaim, Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah, all fell into the hands of Moab (Isaiah 15:2, 4; Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:22, 23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The Reubenites
וּבְנֵ֤י (ū·ḇə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

built up
בָּנ֔וּ (bā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1129: To build

Heshbon,
חֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן (ḥeš·bō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2809: Heshbon -- a place East of the Jordan

Elealeh,
אֶלְעָלֵ֑א (’el·‘ā·lê)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 500: Elealeh -- 'God ascends', four Israelites

Kiriathaim,
קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃ (qir·yā·ṯā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7156: Kiriathaim -- a city in Moab, also a place in Naphtali


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OT Law: Numbers 32:37 The children of Reuben built Heshbon (Nu Num.)
Numbers 32:36
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