CHAPTER 32
Now the Reubenites
and Gadites,
who had
very
large
herds and flocks,
surveyed
the lands
of Jazer
and Gilead,
and they saw
that the region
was suitable
for livestock.
So the Gadites
and Reubenites
came
to
Moses,
Eleazar
the priest,
and the leaders
of the congregation,
and said,
which
the LORD
conquered
before
the congregation
of Israel,
are suitable
for livestock—
and your servants
have livestock.”
“If
we have found
favor
in your sight,”
they said,
“let this
land
be given
to your servants
as a possession.
Do not
make us cross
the Jordan.”
For when your fathers went up
to
the valley
of Eshcol
and saw
the land,
they discouraged
the Israelites
from
entering
the land
the LORD
had given them.
‘Because
they did not
follow Me
wholeheartedly,
not one
of the men
twenty
years of age
or older
who came
out of Egypt
will see
the land
I swore
to give Abraham,
Isaac,
and Jacob—
not one except
Caleb
son
of Jephunneh
the Kenizzite
and Joshua
son
of Nun—
because
they did follow
the LORD
wholeheartedly.’
The LORD’s
anger
burned
against Israel,
and He made them wander
in the wilderness
forty
years,
until
the whole
generation
who had done
evil
in His
sight
was gone.
Now behold,
you, a brood
of sinners,
have risen up
in place
of your fathers
to further
stoke
the burning
anger
of the LORD
against
Israel.
For if
you turn away
from following Him,
He will once again
leave
this
people
in the wilderness,
and you will be the cause of their destr
Then the Gadites and Reubenites approa
Moses
and said,
“We want to build
sheepfolds
here
for our livestock
and cities
for our little ones.
But we
will arm ourselves
and be ready
to go ahead of
the Israelites
until
we have brought
them into
their place.
Meanwhile, our little ones
will remain
in the fortified
cities
for protection from
the inhabitants
of the land.
Yet
we will not
have an inheritance
with them
across
the Jordan
and beyond,
because
our inheritance
has come to us
on the east
side
of the Jordan.”
and if every one
of your armed men
crosses
the Jordan
before
the LORD,
until
He has driven
His enemies
out before Him,
then when the land
is subdued
before
the LORD,
you may return
and be
free
of obligation to the LORD
and to Israel.
And this
land
will belong to
you as a possession
before
the LORD.
But if
you do not
do
this,
you will certainly
sin
against the LORD;
and you may be assured that
your sin
will find you out.
Our children,
our wives,
our livestock,
and all
our animals
will remain
here
in the cities
of Gilead.
But your servants
are equipped
for war,
and every man
will cross over
to the battle
before
the LORD,
just as
our lord
says.”
So Moses
gave orders
about them
to Eleazar
the priest,
to Joshua
son
of Nun,
and to the family
leaders
of the tribes
of Israel.
And Moses
said
to them,
“If
the Gadites
and Reubenites
cross
the Jordan
with you,
with every
man armed
for battle
before
the LORD,
and the land
is subdued
before you,
you are to give
them the land
of Gilead
as a possession.
But if
they do not
go across
with you
armed,
their possession must be
among you
in the land
of Canaan.”
We
will cross over
into the land
of Canaan
armed
before
the LORD,
that
we may have our inheritance
on this side
of the Jordan.”
So Moses
gave
to
the Gadites,
to the Reubenites,
and to the half-tribe
of Manasseh
son
of Joseph,
the kingdom
of Sihon
king
of the Amorites
and the kingdom
of Og
king
of Bashan—
the land
including its cities
and the territory
surrounding
them.
as well as Nebo
and Baal-meon
(whose names
were changed),
and Sibmah.
And they renamed
the cities
they rebuilt.
The descendants
of Machir
son
of Manasseh
went
to Gilead,
captured it,
and drove out
the Amorites
who were there.