37 And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elea'leh, Kiriatha'im,
38 Nebo, and Ba'al-me'on (their names to be changed), and Sibmah; and they gave other names to the cities which they built.
Reuben’s children, who represent faith and understanding, also built several cities. The first of these is Heshbon which means the power of thinking. It has to do with the reasoning mind which eventually rises above the carnality of the purely physical. The next is Elealeh which means where God arises. It symbolizes the lifting up of the mental consciousness. Kiriathaim is the next city listed. It means a double meeting. In this next city built by the children of Reuben was Baalmeon which means lord of dwellings or understanding. It is an understanding of the physical which must be elevated to the spiritual. The last city built by the children of Reuben was Shibmah which means balm, sweet and pleasant. It symbolizes the healing which is a part of the spiritualization of the physical body.
39 And the sons of Machir the son of Manas'seh went to Gilead and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it.
40 And Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manas'seh, and he settled in it.
41 And Ja'ir the son of Manas'seh went and took their villages, and called them Hav'voth-ja'ir.
42 And Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
The wives represent the feminine side of us, our emotions or heart. The children represent our ideas and the herds represent our carnal, physical passions and forces. The act of leaving their wives, children and herds in these cities means that the aspects of consciousness and thought which they represent are safely on these levels before we are really able to take the next step. That is, to cross the river Jordan and take possession of the Promised Land. This building of cities is all about the preparation that we must undergo before we will be able to make that crossing of the River Jordan to the Promised Land, The Kingdom of Heaven or Illumination.