Numbers 32:16–32

¹⁶Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones. ¹⁷But we will arm ourselves and be ready^b to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our little ones will remain in the fortified cities for protection from the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁸We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has taken possession of his inheritance. ¹⁹Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”

²⁰Moses replied, “If you will do this— if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, ²¹and if every one of your armed men crosses the Jordan before the LORD, until He has driven His enemies out before Him, ²²then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will belong to you as a possession before the LORD. ²³But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD — and be assured that your sin will find you out. ²⁴Build cities for your little ones and folds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”

²⁵The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “Your servants will do just as our lord commands. ²⁶Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will remain here in the cities of Gilead. ²⁷But your servants are equipped for war, and every man will cross over to the battle before the LORD, just as our lord says.”

²⁸So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel. ²⁹And Moses said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, with every man armed for battle before the LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then you are to give them the land of Gilead as a possession. ³⁰But if they do not arm themselves and go across with you, then they must accept their possession among you in the land of Canaan.”

³¹The Gadites and Reubenites replied, “As the LORD has spoken to your servants, so we will do. ³²We will cross over into the land of Canaan armed before the LORD, that we may have our inheritance on this side of the Jordan.”