Numbers 32:16-32

16Then they approached him and said, “We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones; 171but we ourselves will be armed, hurrying ahead of the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 182We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has gained possession of his inheritance. 19But we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us 3on this side of the Jordan toward the east.”

204So Moses said to them, “If you will do 5this, if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, 21and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from Him, 226and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be 7free of obligation toward the Lord and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours as property before the Lord. 23But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure that 8your sin will find you out. 24Build yourselves cities for your little ones, and sheepfolds for your sheep, and 9do 10what you have promised.”

25Then the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands. 2611Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall 12remain there in the cities of Gilead, 27while your servants, that is, everyone who is armed for war, 13cross over in the presence of the Lord to battle, just as my lord says.”

28So Moses gave the command regarding them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ households of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 29And Moses said to them, “If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, everyone who is armed for battle, cross with you over the Jordan in the presence of the Lord, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead as their property; 30but if they do not cross over with you armed, they shall instead be settled among you in the land of Canaan.” 31And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, saying, “As the Lord has said to your servants, so we will do. 32We ourselves will cross over armed in the presence of the Lord into the land of Canaan, and the property of our inheritance shall remain with us across the Jordan.”