Dual Panel1The Reubenites and the Gadites owned a very large amount of livestock, and when they saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead was good grazing country,
2they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the community and said,
3“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
4the region which the LORD has subdued before the advance of the Israelite community, is grazing country, and livestock is our main possession.
5If we have found favour with you, sir, then let this country be given to us as our possession, and do not make us cross the Jordan.”
6Moses demanded, “Are your kinsmen to go into battle while you Gadites and Reubenites stay here?
7How dare you discourage the Israelites from crossing over to the land which the LORD has given them?
8This is what your fathers did when I sent them out from Kadesh-barnea to view the land.
9They went up as far as the wadi Eshcol and viewed the land, and on their return so discouraged the Israelites that they would not enter the land which the LORD had given them.
10The LORD's anger was aroused that day, and he solemnly swore:
11‘Because they have not loyally followed me, none of the men aged twenty or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land which I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’
12This meant all except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun; they followed the LORD with their whole heart.
13In his anger the LORD made Israel wander in the wilderness for forty years until that whole generation was gone which had done what was wrong in his eyes.
14You are now following in your fathers” footsteps, a fresh brood of sinful men to fire the LORD's anger once more against Israel.
15If you refuse to follow him, he will again abandon this whole people in the wilderness and you will be the cause of their destruction.'
16Presently they came forward with this offer: “We shall build pens for our livestock here and towns for our dependants.
17Then we can be drafted as a fighting force to go at the head of the Israelites until we have brought them to their destination. Meanwhile our dependants can live in the fortified towns, safe from the natives of the land.
18We shall not return to our homes until every Israelite is settled in possession of his own holding;
19we shall not claim any share of the land with them over the Jordan and beyond, because our holding has already been allotted to us on this side, east of Jordan.”
20Moses answered, “If you stand by your promise, if in the presence of the LORD you are drafted for battle,
21and the whole draft crosses the Jordan in front of the LORD and remains there until the LORD has driven out his enemies,
22and the land has been subdued before him, then you may come back and be quit of your obligation to the LORD and to Israel; and this land will be your holding in the sight of the LORD.
23But I warn you, if you fail to do all this, you will have sinned against the LORD, and your sin will find you out.
24Build towns for your dependants and folds for your sheep; but carry out your promise.”
25The Gadites and Reubenites answered Moses, “Sir, we are your servants and shall do as you command.
26Our dependants and wives, our flocks and all our animals will remain here in the towns of Gilead;
27but we, all who have been drafted for active service with the LORD, shall cross the river and fight, according to your command.”
28Moses gave instructions to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the heads of the families in the Israelite tribes.
29He said, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, all who have been drafted for battle before the LORD, cross the Jordan with you, then when the land falls into your hands, you are to give them Gilead for their holding.
30But if they fail to cross as drafted troops with you, then they will have to acquire land alongside you in Canaan.”
31The Gadites and Reubenites said in response, “Sir, the LORD has spoken, and we shall obey.
32Once we have been drafted, we shall cross over before the LORD into Canaan; but we shall have our holding here on this side of Jordan.”
33So Moses assigned to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdoms of Sihon king of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan, the whole land with its towns and the country round them.
34The Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, all of them fortified towns with folds for their sheep.
37The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
38Nebo, Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah; these were the names they gave to the towns they restored.
39The sons of Machir son of Manasseh invaded Gilead, took it, and drove out the Amorite inhabitants;
40Moses then assigned Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he made his home there.
41Jair son of Manasseh attacked and took the tent-villages of Ham and called them Havvoth-jair.
42Nobah attacked and took Kenath and its villages, and gave it his own name, Nobah.