Numbers 32:1–19

The Tribes East of the Jordan

32The people of Reuben and Gad had large flocks and herds. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were good for the animals, ²they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the people. ^3–4They said, “We, your servants, have flocks and herds. The Lord has captured for the Israelites a land that is good for animals—the land around Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon. ⁵If it pleases you, we would like this land to be given to us. Don’t make us cross the Jordan River.”

⁶Moses told the people of Gad and Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you stay behind? ⁷You will discourage the Israelites from going over to the land the Lord has given them. ⁸Your ancestors did the same thing. I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look at the land. ⁹They went as far as the Valley of Eshcol, and when they saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites from going into the land the Lord had given them. ¹⁰The Lord became very angry that day and made this promise: ¹¹‘None of the people who came from Egypt and who are twenty years old or older will see the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These people have not followed me completely. ¹²Only Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun followed the Lord completely.’

¹³“The Lord was angry with Israel, so he made them wander in the desert for forty years. Finally all the people who had sinned against the Lord died, ¹⁴and now you are acting just like your ancestors! You sinful people are making the Lord even more angry with Israel. ¹⁵If you quit following him, it will add to their stay in the desert, and you will destroy all these people.”

¹⁶Then the Reubenites and Gadites came up to Moses and said, “We will build pens for our animals and cities for our children here. ¹⁷Then our children will be in strong, walled cities, safe from the people who live in this land. Then we will prepare for war. We will help the other Israelites get their land, ¹⁸and we will not return home until every Israelite has received his land. ¹⁹We won’t take any of the land west of the Jordan River; our part of the land is east of the Jordan.”