(their names being changed,) and sis nominibus, et Sibmah: et vo-
HARMONY OF THE LAW · VOLUME 2
38. And Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names being changed,) and
38. Et Nebo, et Baal-meon versis nominibus, et Sibmah: et vocaverunt nominibus nomina urbium quas aedificaverant.
Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.
39. And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it.
39. Perrexerunt autem filii Machir, filii Manasse in Galaad, acceperuntque eam, et expulerunt Amorrhaeum qui erat in ca.
40. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.
40. Itaque dedit Moses Galaad ipsi Machir filio Manasse, et habitavit in ea.
41. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.
41. Jair praeterea filius Manasse prorectus erat, et acceperat vicos eorum, et vocavit eos Havoth-Jair.
42. And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
42. Nobah similiter profectus erat, et ceperat Cenah et villas ejus: vocavitque eam Nobah secundum nomen suum.
1. Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad. In this narrative we behold, as in a glass, that whilst each individual is but too attentive to his own private interests, he forgets what is just and right. Those, indeed, who seek their own advantage, do not reflect that they are doing injury to others; but it is impossible for them to avoid seeking more than is their due, and preferring themselves to others; and thus they sin against that rule of charity, that we should not seek our own. The sons of Gad and Reuben, who had a great quantity of cattle, see a tract of rich and fertile land; self-interest takes possession of them, so that it does not occur to them that they were under an obligation to their brethren not to covet for themselves anything peculiar, or separate from them. Nevertheless, there was a specious pretext for this, whereby their eyes were blinded, viz., that nothing was taken away from the others, but rather that so much addition was made; for by these means the whole country on the other side of Jordan continued to be theirs; and, besides, they were rather relieved of an inconvenience than exposed