15. If you quit following the Lord, it will add to their stay in the desert. So you will destroy all these people.”
16. But the Reubenites and Gadites came up to Moses. They said, “We will build pens for our animals. And we will build cities for our wives and children here.
17. Then our families will be in strong, walled cities. They will be safe from the people who live in this land. Then we will prepare for war. We will help the other Israelites get their land.