Numbers 32:16–27

¹⁶Then they came up to him and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and towns for our little ones, ¹⁷but we will take up arms as a vanguard^t before the Israelites, until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our little ones will stay in the fortified towns because of the inhabitants of the land.^{* 18}We will not return to our homes until all the Israelites have obtained their inheritance.^{* 19}We will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.”^*

²⁰So Moses said to them, “If you do this—if you take up arms to go before the Lord for the war^{* 21}and all those of you who bear arms cross the Jordan before the Lord, until he has driven out his enemies from before him ²²and the land is subdued before the Lord—then after that you may return and be free of obligation to the Lord and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord.^{* 23}But if you do not do this, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. ²⁴Build towns for your little ones and folds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”^*

²⁵Then the Gadites and the Reubenites said to Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. ²⁶Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock shall remain there in the towns of Gilead,^{* 27}but your servants will cross over, everyone armed for war, to do battle for the Lord, just as my lord orders.”^*