2 Samuel 24:5

WEB

They passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and to Jazer:

KJV

And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

Commentary

And they passed over Jordan,.... To take the number of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh first: and pitched in Aroer; for it seems that Joab and the captains had the army wit h them, and the several captains under their command, partly to assist in numbering the people, and partly to keep them in awe, lest they should oppose them, not knowing what was the design of all this Aroer was a city given to the tribe of Gad, and rebuilt by them, Num 32:34 , on the right side of the city; that is, of Aroer, the south side of it, as the Targum, did Joab and his army pitch: that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad; which was the river Arnon, so called now from the tribe of Gad, which possessed it, and so the Targum, in the midst of the river of the tribe of Gad; for in the midst of the river Arnon Aroer lay, see Jos 13:9 , and toward Jazer; another city given to the Gadites, Num 32:3 ; and, according to Bunting (u), was sixteen miles from Aroer. (u) Travels, &c. p. 147.