24. "So build up cities for your women and children. Make sheep pens for your flocks. But do what you have promised to do."
25. The people of Gad and Reuben spoke to Moses. They said, "We will do just as you command.
26. Our children and wives will remain here in the cities of Gilead. So will our flocks and herds.
27. But we will prepare ourselves for battle. We'll go across the Jordan River and fight for the Lord. We will do just as you have said."
28. Then Moses gave orders about them to the priest Eleazar. He gave the same orders to Joshua, the son of Nun. He also spoke to the family heads of the tribes of Israel.
29. He said, "The men of Gad and Reuben must prepare themselves for battle. They must go across the Jordan River with you. They must help you fight for the Lord. They must stay with you until the land has been brought under your control. If they do, give them the land of Gilead as their own.
30. "But what if they don't get ready for battle? What if they don't go across the Jordan with you? Then they must accept a share with you in Canaan."
31. The people of Gad and Reuben gave their answer. They said, "We will do what the Lord has said.
32. We'll get ready for battle. We'll go across the Jordan into Canaan. We'll fight for the Lord there. But the property we receive will be on this side of the Jordan River."
33. Then Moses gave their land to them. He gave it to the tribes of Gad and Reuben and half of the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh was Joseph's son. One part of that land had belonged to the kingdom of Sihon, the king of the Amorites. The other part had belonged to the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan. Moses gave that whole land to those two and a half tribes. It included its cities and the territory around them.
34. The people of Gad built up the cities of Dibon, Ataroth and Aroer.
35. They built up Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36. Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran. They built a high wall around each of those cities. They also built sheep pens for their flocks.