¹⁶ Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, ¹⁷ but ^(A)we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. ^18 (B)We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has ^[a]received his inheritance. ¹⁹ For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, ^(C)because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.”

²⁰ Then ^(D)Moses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, ²¹ and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, ²² and ^(E)the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward ^(F)you may return and be blameless before the Lord and before Israel; and ^(G)this land shall be your possession before the Lord. ²³ But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure ^(H)your sin will find you out. ^24 (I)Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do ^[b]what has proceeded out of your mouth.”

²⁵ And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying: “Your servants will do as my lord commands. ^26 (J)Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead; ^27 (K)but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, just as my lord says.”