Numbers 32:16-32 - The Offer Of The Reubenites And Gadites
16 Then they came near unto him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will go arm ourselves and go with diligence before the sons of Israel until we have brought them unto their place, and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return unto our houses until the sons of Israel have inherited each man his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan or forward because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of Jordan eastward.
20 Then Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will prepare yourselves to go before the LORD to the war 21 and will all pass the Jordan armed before the LORD until he has driven out his enemies from before him 22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward ye shall return and be guiltless before the LORD and before Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. 23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye shall have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will catch up with you. 24 Build 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 unto Moses, saying, Thy slaves will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our beasts, shall be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but thy slaves, each one armed for war, will pass before the LORD to battle, as our lord saith.
28 So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar, the priest, and Joshua, the son of Nun, and the princes of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 29 And Moses said unto them, If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben will pass the Jordan with you, each one armed to battle, before the LORD, after the land shall be subdued before you, then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. 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 the LORD has said unto thy slaves, so will we do. 32 We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance on this side of the Jordan shall be ours.