14. Now you people of Reuben and Gad are doing the same thing and making the Lord even angrier.
15. If you reject the Lord, he will once again abandon his people and leave them here in the desert. And you will be to blame!
16. The men from Reuben and Gad replied:Let us build places to keep our sheep and goats, and towns for our wives and children,
17. where they can stay and be safe. Then we'll prepare to fight and lead the other tribes into battle.
18. We will stay with them until they have settled in their own tribal lands.
19. The land on this side of the River Jordan will be ours, so we won't expect to receive any on the other side.
20. Moses said:You promised that you would be ready to fight for the Lord.
21. You also agreed to cross the Jordan and stay with the rest of the Israelites, until the Lord forces our enemies out of the land. If you do these things,
22. then after the Lord helps Israel capture the land, you can return to your own land. You will no longer have to stay with the others.
23. But if you don't keep your promise, you will sin against the Lord and be punished.
24. Go ahead and build towns for your wives and children, and places for your sheep and goats. Just be sure to do what you have promised.