1. The tribes of Reuben and Gad had many cattle. These people looked at the land near Jazer and Gilead. They saw that this land was good for their cattle.
2. So the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad came to Moses. They spoke to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the people.
3-4. They said, “We, your servants, have many cattle. And the land that the Lord let the people of Israel capture is good land for cattle. This land includes the area around Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon.
5. If it pleases you, we would like this land to be given to us. Don’t take us to the other side of the Jordan River.”
6. Moses told the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad, “Will you let your brothers go and fight while you settle here?
7. Why are you trying to discourage the Israelites? You will make them not want to cross the river and take the land that the Lord has given to them!
8. Your fathers did the same thing to me. In Kadesh Barnea I sent spies to look at the land.
9. These men went as far as Eshcol Valley. They saw the land, and they discouraged the Israelites. These men made the Israelites not want to go into the land that the Lord had given to them.
10. The Lord became very angry with the people. He made this promise:
11. ‘None of the people who came from Egypt and are 20 years old or older will be allowed to see this land. I made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I promised to give this land to these people, but they did not really follow me.
12. Only Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun really followed the Lord!’
13. “The Lord was very angry with the Israelites. So he made the people stay in the desert for 40 years. He made them stay there until all the people who had sinned against the Lord were dead.
14. And now you are doing the same thing that your fathers did. You sinful people, do you want the Lord to be even more angry with his people?
15. If you stop following the Lord, he will make Israel stay even longer in the desert. Then you will destroy all these people!”
16. But the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad went to Moses. They said, “We will build cities for our children and barns for our animals here.
17. Then our children can be safe from the other people who live in this land. But we will gladly come and help the other Israelites. We will bring them to their land.