32 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; ² the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, ³ Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, ⁴ even the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: ⁵ wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

⁶ And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?

¹⁶ And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones: ¹⁷ but we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁸ We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. ¹⁹ For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

²⁰ And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war, ²¹ and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, ²² and the land be subdued before the Lord: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. ²³ But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. ²⁴ Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth. ²⁵ And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. ²⁶ Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead: ²⁷ but thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord saith.