Numbers 32:15-17

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁵ If you turn back from following him,^(A) he will once again leave this people in the wilderness, and you will destroy all of them.”

¹⁶ Then they approached him and said, “We want to build sheep pens here for our livestock and cities for our dependents. ¹⁷ But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place.^(B) Meanwhile, our dependents will remain in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.