Numbers 32

1The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had exceedingly numerous livestock, and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead—behold, the place, a place for livestock.

2The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying,

3Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon.

4The land that Yahweh struck before Israel's congregation is land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.

5They said, "If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to your servants for a possession; do not take us across the Jordan."

6Moses said to the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to war, and you stay here?"

7Why do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from crossing over to the land that Yahweh has given them?

8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.

9When they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they dissuaded the heart of Israel's children from entering the land that Yahweh had given them.

10Yahweh's anger burned that day, and he swore, saying,

11Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, will see the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not fully followed me.

12except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, because they have followed Yahweh fully.

13Yahweh burned with anger against Israel and made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that did evil in the sight of Yahweh was consumed.

14See, you have arisen in place of your fathers, a brood of sinful men, to add yet more to Yahweh's burning anger against Israel.

15For if you turn away from following him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people.

16They approached him and said, "We will build sheepfolds for our flock here and cities for our children."

17We ourselves will go armed and ready before the sons of Israel until we bring them to their place, and our families will dwell in the stronghold cities because of the land's inhabitants.

18We will not return to our homes until the children of Israel have each received his inheritance.

19For we will not inherit with them beyond the Jordan and further, because our inheritance has come to us beyond the Jordan eastward.

20Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before Yahweh for battle,"

21and every one of your warriors will cross the Jordan before Yahweh until he expels his enemies from his presence.

22When the land is conquered before Yahweh, then afterward you shall return and be blameless toward Yahweh and Israel, and this land shall be your possession before Yahweh.

23But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against Yahweh, and know that your sin will find you.

24Build cities for your children and enclosures for your sheep, and do what comes out of your mouth.

25The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben said to Moses, "Your servants will do as my lord commands."

26Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle will be there in the cities of Gilead.

27Your servants will cross over, every armed man of the army before Yahweh to battle, as my lord says.

28Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Israel concerning them.

29Moses said to them, "If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben cross over the Jordan with you, every armed man ready for battle before Yahweh, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession."

30But if they do not cross over armed with you, they will take possession among you in the land of Canaan.

31The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, saying, "As Yahweh has spoken to your servants, so we will do."

32We will cross over armed before Yahweh into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance will remain with us beyond the Jordan.

33Moses gave the sons of Gad, the sons of Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land, its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding land.

34The sons of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, and Aroer.

35and Atroth-Shophan, and Jazer, and Jogbehah,

36and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fortress cities, and sheep pens.

37And the sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kiriathaim.

38Nebo, Baal-meon (whose name was changed), Sibmah; and they called the cities they built by other names.

39The sons of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and dispossessed the Amorite who was in it.

40Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he lived there.

41Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth Jair.

42Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah by his name.