16. They approached him and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our children.
17. But we ourselves will be armed, ready before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18. We will not return to our houses until all the children of Israel have inherited their inheritance.
19. We will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan or beyond, because our inheritance fell to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.”
20. Moses said to them, “If you will do this thing, if you will be armed before the Lord for war,
21. and all of you, each armed, will go over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies from before Him
22. and the land is subdued before the Lord, then after that you will return and be exempt before the Lord and before Israel, and this land will be your possession before the Lord.
23. “But if you will not do so, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
24. Build for yourselves cities for your children and folds for your sheep, and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.”
25. The children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do as my lord commands.
26. Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead,
27. but your servants will cross over, each man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord says.”
28. So Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel.