Numbers 32 in the early church

20 passages quote, allude to, or echo Numbers 32, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 4 · 6 · 11 · 13 · 16 · 20 · 28 · 33 · 39

Numbers 32:1

Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:1–5	On First Principles 4.3.12 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398)
Num 32:1–33	Homilies on Numbers 26.3 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 32:1–33	Demonstration 14.40 · Aphrahat	allusion, medium confidence	337-345
Num 32:1	Letter 78.43 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Num 32:1–42	Against Jovinianus 2.34 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	393
Num 32:1–33	Numbers, lines 768–777 · Cyprianus Gallus	allusion, high confidence	early 5th cent.

Numbers 32:4

which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, are suitable for livestock—and your servants have livestock.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:4	Homilies on Numbers 26.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 32:6

But Moses asked the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:6–7	Homilies on Numbers 26.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 32:11

‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:11	On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 2.57 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	411–412

Numbers 32:13

The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in His sight was gone.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:13	Sermon 51.31 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Num 32:13	Sermon 264.8 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 391-430

Numbers 32:16

Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:16–17	Homilies on Numbers 26.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 32:20

Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:20	Homilies on Joshua 3.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 32:28

So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:28–29	Homilies on Numbers 26.5 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 32:33

So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:33	Homilies on Joshua 23.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 32:33	Homilies on Numbers 21.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 32:33	Homilies on Numbers 21.3 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 32:33	Homilies on Numbers 27.3 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 32:33	On the Complaints of Job and David 4.15 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 383-390

Numbers 32:39

The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 32:39–40	Tractates on the Psalms 59.8 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 360–367