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 go ready armed before the sons of Israel until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fenced cities because of those who live in 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 Jordan, or forward, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of Jordan, eastward.
20 And Moses said to them, If you will do this thing, if you will go armed before Jehovah to war, 21 and all of you will go armed over Jordan before Jehovah until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before Jehovah, then afterwards you shall return and be guiltless before Jehovah and before Israel. And this land shall be your possession before Jehovah. 23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Jehovah. And be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do that which has come out of your mouth.
25 And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses saying, Your 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 your servants will go over, every man armed for war, before Jehovah to battle, as my lord says.
28 So regarding them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief 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 go with you over Jordan, each armed to battle before Jehovah, and the land shall be humbled before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. 30 But if they will not go 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 Jehovah has said to your servants, so we will do. 32 We will go over armed before Jehovah into the land of Canaan, so that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.