The Transjordan Tribes

32 The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks,a saw that the lands of Jazerb and Gileadc were suitable for livestock.d 2 So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community,e and said, 3 “Ataroth,f Dibon,g Jazer,h Nimrah,i Heshbon,j Elealeh,k Sebam,l Nebom and Beonn—4 the land the Lord subduedo before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock,p and your servants have livestock. 5 If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.q”

6 Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?r 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land.s 9 After they went up to the Valley of Eshkolt and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them. 10 The Lord’s anger was arousedu that day and he swore this oath:v 11 ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or morew when they came up out of Egyptx will see the land I promised on oathy to Abraham, Isaac and Jacobz—12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’a 13 The Lord’s anger burned against Israelb and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.c

14 “And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel.d 15 If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.e”

16 Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pensf here for our livestockg and cities for our women and children. 17 But we will arm ourselves for battlea and go ahead of the Israelitesh until we have brought them to their place.i Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.j 19 We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritancek has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”l

20 Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battlem 21 and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before himn—22 then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may returno and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possessionp before the Lord.q

23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.r 24 Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks,s but do what you have promised.t”

25 The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands.u 26 Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead.v 27 But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fightw before the Lord, just as our lord says.”