Numbers 32:16-32 - The Offer Of The Reubenites And Gadites
16 And they came near to him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our houses until the sons of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan, and forward, because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of the Jordan eastward.
20 And Moses said to them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will arm yourselves to go before LORD to the war, 21 and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him, 22 and the land is subdued before LORD, then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless towards LORD, and towards Israel, and this land shall be to you for a possession before LORD. 23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build for you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep, and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.
25 And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead, 27 but thy servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before LORD to battle, as my lord says.
28 So Moses gave charge concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 29 And Moses said to them, If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man that is armed to battle, before LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you, then ye shall give them the land of Gil 30 but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.
31 And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, saying, As LORD has said to thy servants, so we will do. 32 We will pass over armed before LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance [is] with us beyond the Jordan.