Numbers 32:16–27

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.”

²⁰So Moses told them, “You must do these things. You must go before the Lord into battle ²¹and cross the Jordan River armed, until the Lord forces out the enemy. ²²After the Lord helps us take the land, you may return home. You will have done your duty to the Lord and Israel, and you may have this land as your own.

²³“But if you don’t do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord; know for sure that you will be punished for your sin. ²⁴Build cities for your children and pens for your animals, but then you must do what you promised.”

²⁵The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We are your servants, and we will do what you, our master, command. ²⁶Our children, wives, and all our cattle will stay in the cities of Gilead, ²⁷but we, your servants, will prepare for battle. We will go over and fight for the Lord, as you, our master, have said.”