Numbers 32:6-32

New International Version

⁶ Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? ⁷ Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?^{(A) 8} This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land.^{(B) 9} After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol^(C) and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them. ¹⁰ The Lord’s anger was aroused^(D) that day and he swore this oath:^{(E) 11} ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more^(F) when they came up out of Egypt^(G) will see the land I promised on oath^(H) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(I)— ¹² not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’^{(J) 13} The Lord’s anger burned against Israel^(K) and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.^(L)

¹⁴ “And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel.^{(M) 15} If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.^(N)”

¹⁶ Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens^(O) here for our livestock^(P) and cities for our women and children. ¹⁷ But we will arm ourselves for battle^[a] and go ahead of the Israelites^(Q) until we have brought them to their place.^(R) Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁸ We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.^{(S) 19} We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance^(T) has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”^(U)

²⁰ Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle^{(V) 21} and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him^(W)— ²² then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return^(X) and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession^(Y) before the Lord.^(Z)

²³ “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.^{(AA) 24} Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks,^(AB) but do what you have promised.^(AC)”

²⁵ The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands.^{(AD) 26} Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead.^{(AE) 27} But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight^(AF) before the Lord, just as our lord says.”

²⁸ Then Moses gave orders about them^(AG) to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun^(AH) and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.^{(AI) 29} He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you,^(AJ) you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.^{(AK) 30} But if they do not cross over^(AL) with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.^(AM)”

³¹ The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the Lord has said.^{(AN) 32} We will cross over before the Lord into Canaan armed,^(AO) but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.^(AP)”