Numbers 32
1 The descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad had a very large number of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and the place was suitable for livestock.
2 The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben came and said to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community:
3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
4 the land that the LORD struck down before the community of Israel, is suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock.”
5 They said, “If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
6 Moses said to the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben, “Will your brothers go to war while you stay here?
7 Why are you discouraging the Israelites from crossing over into the land that the LORD has given them?
8 That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.
9 They went up to the Valley of Eshcol, saw the land, and discouraged the Israelites from entering the land that the LORD had given them.
10 The LORD's anger burned that day, and he swore:
11 ‘None of the men who came up from Egypt, twenty years old and older, will see the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they did not follow me wholeheartedly.’”
12 “‘Only Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun will see it, because they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.’
13 The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until that whole generation that had done evil in the LORD's sight was gone.
14 And now you have risen up in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the LORD's fierce anger against Israel.
15 If you turn away from him, he will leave them in the wilderness again, and you will bring ruin on all this people.”
16 They came up to him and said, “We will build sheep pens here for our livestock and towns for our children.
17 But we will arm ourselves and hurry ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Our children will stay in fortified towns because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 We will not return to our homes until the Israelites have each taken possession of their inheritance.
19 For we will have no inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, since our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan, to the east.”
20 Moses said to them, “If you do this—if you arm yourselves for war before the LORD,
21 and all your armed men cross the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out from before him—
22 then, when the land has been subdued before the LORD, you may return and will be free of blame before the LORD and Israel. This land will be your possession before the LORD.
23 But if you do not do so, you will have sinned against the LORD. Be sure your sin will find you.
24 Build towns for your children and pens for your sheep, and do what you have promised.”
25 The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben said to Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands.
26 Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will remain there in the towns of Gilead.
27 But your servants, all armed for war, will cross over before the LORD to fight, as my lord has said.”
28 Moses gave instructions about them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes.
29 Moses said to them, “If the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben cross the Jordan with you, all armed for war before the LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then give them the land of Gilead as a possession.
30 But if they do not cross over armed with you, they must receive a possession among you in the land of Canaan.”
31 The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben answered, “We will do as the LORD has spoken to your servants.
32 We will cross over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance will remain with us on this side of the Jordan.”
33 Moses gave the descendants of Gad, the descendants 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 with its towns and their territories, and the towns throughout the surrounding land.
34 The descendants of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified towns, along with sheep pens.
37 The descendants of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
38 Nebo, Baal-meon (their names were changed), and Sibmah. They gave names to the towns they rebuilt.
39 The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
40 Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he settled there.
41 Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their villages, and named them Havvoth-jair.
42 Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages, and named it Nobah after himself.
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