Numbers 32

(1) Reuben and Gad Ask to Stay Outside of Promised Land

Reuben’s descendants and Gad’s descendants both had lots and lots of livestock, so when they saw the regions of Jazer and Gilead (which were great for livestock), they talked to Moses, Priest Eleazar, and the population’s leaders. They said,

“The Existing One conquered the areas of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon—which are all great for livestock—and we have lots of livestock! So if you view us favorably, then please let us have that land instead of taking us across the Jordan river.”

(6) Moses Reminds Them to Obey God

But Moses told the descendants of Gad and Reuben,

“Are you gonna let your brothers go to war while you guys just stay here? Why are you discouraging Israel’s descendants from going to the place the Existing One gave them?

“That’s exactly what your parents did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to go scout out the land. When they got to the ravine at Eshcol and looked at the area, they discouraged Israel’s descendants from going to land the Existing One gave them. That’s why Existing One got mad that day and swore,

‘No one 20 or older who came from Egypt will get to see the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They failed to follow Me fully. The only two people who will step foot into the promised land will be Caleb (Jephunneh’s son who was a Kenizzite) and Joshua (Nun’s son), because they followed Me fully.’

“That’s why the Existing One got mad at Israel and made them wander around the desert for 40 years until that entire generation died out for wronging the Existing One.

“Now look: here you guys are, following in your parents’ footsteps. Your parents wronged God, and now their kids are making Him even madder at Israel! If you stop following God, He’ll abandon you in the desert again, and you’ll be the reason why all these people die.”

(16) Reuben and Gad Still Want the Land

The tribes of Reuben and Gad came close and said,

“What if we build cities here for our children and fences for our livestock, but we ourselves stay armed and go with Israel’s descendants until we’ve brought them to their place? That way, our kids can live here in the fortified cities to protect them from the locals. And we won’t even go back to our homes until every single Israeli has acquired his inheritance. We won’t need to take any of the inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River—our inheritance can be right here, east of the Jordan.”

(20) Moses Allows them to Stay if They Help Conquer Canaan

So Moses told them,

“Let’s say you do that in the presence of the Existing One—you arm yourselves for war, you cross the Jordan with us, God pushes back His enemies, and Israel conquers the land. At that point, you may come back here and you won’t owe anything else to God or Israel—this land will be yours. But if you don’t follow through on that, then you will be crossing the Existing One—and be sure of this: your offense will catch up to you.

“So okay: you can build cities for your kids and pens for your sheep here—just make sure you follow through on your word.”

(25) Gad and Reuben Agree

Then Gad’s descendants and Reuben’s descendants told Moses,

“We are your servants, and we’ll do as you say. We’ll leave our kids, wives, and livestock here in Gilead’s cities while our soldiers cross over into the Existing One’s presence to battle.”

So Moses handed command over to Priest Eleazar, Joshua (Nun’s son), and the leaders of Israel’s tribes. Then he told them,

“If Gad’s descendants, Reuben’s descendants, and the soldiers cross the Jordan with you into the Existing One’s presence and capture the land, then you need to give the land of Gilead to them. But if they don’t cross over with you armed, then the land they’ll get will be with you guys in Canaan.”

Gad’s descendants and Reuben’s descendants responded, saying,

“We’ll comply with what the Existing One told you to do. We’ll arm ourselves and cross over into Canaan where the Existing One is. That way, we can claim our inheritance here, on the other side of the Jordan.”

(33) Moses Gave that Land to Gad, Reuben, & Manasseh

And so it was: Moses gave that land to Gad’s descendants, Reuben’s descendants, and Manasseh (the half tribe of Joseph’s son). He gave them the land from Sihon’s empire and Og’s empire. (Sihon was the Amorite king, and Og was the king of Bashan.) Moses gave them the land along with its cities, territories, and surrounding cities.

Gad’s sons built the fortified cities of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran. They also built sheepfolds for all those cities.

Reuben’s descendants built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, Nebo, and Baal-meon⁠ (although their names were changed). They also built Sibmah and named the other cities they built.

Manasseh had a son named Machir whose descendants went to Gilead and captured it. Manassehs’s descendants either captured or killed the Amorites who were living there, so Moses gave Gilead to Manasseh’s son Machir, and he inhabited it. Manasseh’s son Jair went and took its villages, naming them Havvoth-jair [Jair’s villages]. Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, naming them “Nobah” after himself.