¹² But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,^(A) Joshua said, ¹³ “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest^(B) by giving you this land.’ ¹⁴ Your wives,^(C) your children and your livestock may stay in the land^(D) that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle,^(E) must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.^(F) You are to help them ¹⁵ until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”^(G)

¹⁶ Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.^{(H) 17} Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.^(I) Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey^(J) it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!^(K)”

Eastern Tribes Return Home

22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh ² and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded,^(A) and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. ³ For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. ⁴ Now that the Lord your God has given them rest^(B) as he promised, return to your homes^(C) in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.^{(D) 5} But be very careful to keep the commandment^(E) and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord^(F) your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands,^(G) to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.^(H)”

⁶ Then Joshua blessed^(I) them and sent them away, and they went to their homes.