20. So Moses told them, “If you do all these things, this land will belong to you. But your soldiers must go before the Lord into battle.
21. Your soldiers must cross the Jordan River and be ready to fight for the Lord until he forces the enemy to leave.
22. After the Lord helps us all take the land, you can go back home. Then the Lord and Israel will not think that you are guilty. And the Lord will let you have this land.
23. But if you don’t do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord. And know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.
24. Build cities for your children and barns for your animals. But then, you must do what you promised.”
25. Then the people from the tribes of Gad and Reuben said to Moses, “We are your servants. You are our master, so we will do what you say.
26. Our wives, children, and all our animals will stay in the cities of Gilead.
27. But we, your servants, will cross the Jordan River. We will march before the Lord into battle, as our master says.”
28. So Moses, Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and all the leaders of the tribes of Israel heard them make that promise.
29. Moses said to them, “The people of Gad and Reuben will cross the Jordan River. They will march before the Lord into battle. They will help you take the land. And you will give the land of Gilead as their part of the country.