Numbers 32:16–27

¹⁶They came near to him and said, “We will build sheep pens here for the flock of our livestock and cities for our little children; ¹⁷but we ourselves will become armed and ready before the Israelites^r until we have brought them to their place, and our little children will live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁸We will not return to our houses until the Israelites^s each obtain their^t inheritance for themselves. ¹⁹For we will not take possession with them from across the Jordan and beyond because our inheritance has come to us from across the Jordan to the east.”

²⁰So Moses said to them, “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before^u Yahweh for the war, ²¹and everyone of you armed cross the Jordan before^v Yahweh until he has driven out his enemies from before him, ²²and the land is subdued before^w Yahweh, then afterward you will return and be free of obligation from Yahweh and from Israel, and this land will be your property before^x Yahweh. ²³But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against Yahweh, and know that your sin will find you. ²⁴Build for yourselves cities for your little children and sheep pens for your flocks; what has gone out from your mouth you will do.”

²⁵So the descendants^y of Gad and the descendants^z of Reuben said to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands. ²⁶Our little children, our wives, our livestock, and all of our animals^a will remain^b in the cities of Gilead, ²⁷but your servants, everyone who is armed for battle, will cross over before^c Yahweh to the war, just as my lord says.”