The Tribes East of the Jordan
(Deuteronomy 3.12-22)1 The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a lot of livestock. When they saw how suitable the land of Jazer and Gilead was for cattle, 2 they went to Moses, Eleazar, and the other leaders of the community and said, 3-4 “This region which the Lord has helped the Israelites occupy—the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon—is good land for livestock, and we have so much livestock. 5 Please give us this land as our property, and do not make us cross the Jordan River and settle there.”
6 Moses replied, “Do you want to stay here while the other Israelites go to war? 7 How dare you try to discourage the people of Israel from crossing the Jordan into the land which the Lord has given them? 8 That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. 9 They went as far as Eshcol Valley and saw the land, but when they returned, they discouraged the people from entering the land which the Lord had given them. 10 The Lord became angry that day and made a promise: 11 ‘I swear that because they did not remain loyal to me, none of the men twenty years old or older who came out of Egypt will enter the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ 12 This included everyone, except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun; they remained loyal to the Lord. 13 The Lord became angry with the people and made them wander in the wilderness forty years until that whole generation that had displeased him was dead. 14 And now you have taken your ancestors' place, a new generation of sinful people ready to bring down the fierce anger of the Lord on Israel again. 15 If you people of Reuben and Gad refuse to follow him now, he will once again abandon all these people in the wilderness, and you will be responsible for their destruction.”
16 They approached Moses and said, “First, allow us to build stone enclosures here for our sheep and fortified towns for our dependents. 17 Then we will be ready to go with the other Israelites into battle and lead the attack until we have settled them in the land that will be theirs. In the meantime, our dependents can live here in the fortified towns, safe from the people of this land. 18 We will not return to our homes until all the other Israelites have taken possession of the land assigned to them. 19 We will not take possession of any property among them on the other side of the Jordan, because we have received our share here east of the Jordan.”
20 Moses answered, “If you really mean what you say, then here in the presence of the Lord get ready to go into battle. 21 All your fighting men are to cross the Jordan and under the command of the Lord they are to attack our enemies until the Lord defeats them 22 and takes possession of the land. After that, you may return, because you will have fulfilled your obligation to the Lord and to the other Israelites. Then the Lord will acknowledge that this land east of the Jordan is yours. 23 But if you do not keep your promise, I warn you that you will be sinning against the Lord. Make no mistake about it; you will be punished for your sin. 24 So build your towns and the enclosures for your sheep, but do what you have promised!”
25 The men of Gad and Reuben said, “Sir, we will do as you command. 26 Our wives and children and our cattle and sheep will remain here in the towns of Gilead. 27 But all of us are ready to go into battle under the Lord's command. We will cross the Jordan and fight, just as you have said.”
28 So Moses gave these commands to Eleazar, Joshua, and the other leaders of Israel: 29 “If the men of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan ready for battle at the Lord's command and if with their help you are able to conquer the land, then give them the land of Gilead as their property. 30 But if they do not cross the Jordan and go into battle with you, they are to receive their share of the property in the land of Canaan, as you do.”
31 The men of Gad and Reuben answered, “Sir, we will do as the Lord has commanded. 32 Under his command we will cross into the land of Canaan and go into battle, so that we can retain our property here east of the Jordan.”
33 So Moses assigned to the tribes of Gad and Reuben and to half the tribe of Manasseh all the territory of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan, including the towns and the country around them. 34 The tribe of Gad rebuilt the fortified towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran. 37 The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal Meon (this name was changed), and Sibmah. They gave new names to the towns they rebuilt.
39 The clan of Machir son of Manasseh invaded the land of Gilead, occupied it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir, and they lived there. 41 Jair, of the tribe of Manasseh, attacked and captured some villages and named them “Villages of Jair.” 42 Nobah attacked and captured Kenath and its villages, and he renamed it Nobah, after himself.
1 Nowe the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad had an exceeding great multitude of cattell: and they sawe the lande of Iazer, and the lande of Gilead, that it was an apt place for cattel. 2 Then the children of Gad, and the childre of Reuben came, and spake vnto Moses and to Eleazar the Priest, and vnto the princes of the Congregation, saying, 3 The land of Ataroth, and Dibon, and Iazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, 4 Which countrey the Lord smote before the Congregation of Israel, is a lande meete for cattell, and thy seruants haue cattell: 5 Wherefore, said they, if we haue foud grace in thy sight, let this lande be giuen vnto thy seruants for a possession, and bring vs not ouer Iorde. 6 And Moses said vnto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren goe to warre, and ye tary heere? 7 Wherefore now discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel, to goe ouer into the lande, which the Lord hath giuen them? 8 Thus did your fathers when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the lande. 9 For when they went vp euen vnto the riuer of Eshcol, and sawe the land: they discouraged the heart of the childre of Israel, that they woulde not goe into the lande, which the Lord had giuen them. 10 And the Lordes wrath was kindled the same day, and he did sweare, saying, 11 None of the men that came out of Egypt from twentie yeere olde and aboue, shall see the land for the which I sware vnto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Iaakob, because they haue not wholly followed me: 12 Except Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh the Kenesite, and Ioshua the sonne of Nun: for they haue constantly followed the Lord. 13 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and made them wander in the wildernesse fourty yeeres, vntill all the generation that had done euill in the sight of the Lord were consumed. 14 And behold, ye are risen vp in your fathers steade as an encrease of sinfull men, still to augment the fierce wrath of the Lord, toward Israel. 15 For if ye turne away from following him, he will yet againe leaue the people in the wildernesse, and ye shall destroy all this folke. 16 And they went neere to him, and said, We will builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe, and for our cattell, and cities for our children. 17 But we our selues will be readie armed to go before the children of Israel, vntill we haue brought them vnto their place: but our childre shall dwell in the defenced cities, because of the inhabitants of the lande. 18 We will not returne vnto our houses, vntil the children of Israel haue inherited, euery man his inheritance. 19 Neither wil we inherite with them beyond Iorden and on that side, because our inheritance is fallen to vs on this side Iorden Eastwarde. 20 And Moses saide vnto them, If ye will doe this thing, and goe armed before the Lord to warre: 21 And will goe euery one of you in harnesse ouer Iorden before the Lord, vntill he hath cast out his enemies from his sight: 22 And vntill the land be subdued before the Lord, then ye shall returne and be innocent toward the Lord, and toward Israel: and this land shalbe your possession before the Lord. 23 But if ye will not doe so, beholde, ye haue sinned against the Lord, and be sure, that your sinne will finde you out. 24 Builde you then cities for your children and folds for your sheepe, and do that ye haue spoke. 25 Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake vnto Moses, saying, Thy seruats will doe as my lorde commandeth: 26 Our childre, our wiues, our sheepe, and al our cattell shall remaine there in the cities of Gilead, 27 But thy seruants will goe euery one armed to warre before the Lord for to fight, as my lorde saith. 28 So concerning them, Moses commanded Eleazar the Priest, and Ioshua the sonne of Nun, and the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: 29 And Moses said vnto them, If the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben, will go with you ouer Iorden, all armed to fight before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you, ye shall giue the the lad of Gilead for a possessio: 30 But if they will not goe ouer with you armed, then they shall haue their possessions amog you in the land of Canaan. 31 And the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the Lord hath said vnto thy seruants, so will we doe. 32 We will goe armed before the Lord into the lande of Canaan: that the possession of our inheritance may be to vs on this side Iorden. 33 So Moses gaue vnto them, euen to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to halfe the tribe of Manasseh the sonne of Ioseph, the kingdome of Sihon King of the Amorites, and the kingdome of Og King of Bashan, the lande with the cities thereof and coastes, euen the cities of the countrey round about. 34 Then the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, 35 And Atroth, Shophan, and Iazer, and Iogbehah, 36 And Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, defenced cities: also sheepe foldes. 37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim, 38 And Nebo, and Baal-meon, and turned their names, and Shibmah: and gaue other names vnto the cities which they built. 39 And the children of Machir the sonne of Manasseh went to Gilead, and tooke it, and put out the Amorites that dwelt therein. 40 Then Moses gaue Gilead vnto Machir the sonne of Manasseh, and he dwelt therein. 41 And Iair the sonne of Manasseh went and tooke the small townes thereof, and called them Hauoth Iair. 42 Also Nobah went and tooke Kenath, with the villages thereof and called it Nobah, after his owne name.