The Tribes East of the Jordan
(Deuteronomy 3:12–22; Joshua 13:8–14)

1Now the Reubenites (behold a son) and Gadites (troop), who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer (helped) and Gilead (rocky region), and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock. 2So the Gadites (troop) and Reubenites (behold a son) came to Moses (drawn out), Eleazar (God has helped) the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, and said, 3“Ataroth (crowns), Dibon (wasting), Jazer (helped), Nimrah (pure), Heshbon (stronghold), Elealeh (God is ascending), Sebam [Sibmah],a Nebo (prophet), and Beon (in the dwelling), 4which the LORD {YHWH} conquered before the congregation of Israel (he wrestles with God), are suitable for livestock—and your servants have livestock.”

5“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 (flowing down).”

6But Moses (drawn out) asked the Gadites (troop) and Reubenites (behold a son), “Shall your⁺ brothers go to war while you⁺ sit here? 7Why are you⁺ discouraging the Israelites (God prevails) from crossing into the land that the LORD {YHWH} has given them? 8This is what your⁺ fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea (holy) to inspect the land.

9For when your fathers went up to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster) and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites (God prevails) from entering the land that the LORD {YHWH} had given them. 10So the anger of the LORD {YHWH} was kindled that day, and He swore an oath, saying, 11‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt (land of bondage) will see the land that I swore to give Abraham (father of many), Isaac (he laughs), and Jacob (he grasps the heel)— 12not one except Caleb (dog) son of Jephunneh (He will be facing) the Kenizzite and Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity)—because they did follow the LORD {YHWH} wholeheartedly.’ 13The anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Israel (he wrestles with God), and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in His sight was gone.

14Now behold, you, a brood of sinners, have risen up in place of your⁺ fathers to further stoke the burning anger of the LORD {YHWH} against Israel (he wrestles with God). 15For 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 destruction.”

16Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones. 17But we will arm ourselves and be ready [we will arm ourselves for battle]b to go ahead of the Israelites (God prevails) 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. 18We will not return to our homes until every Israelite (he wrestles with God) has taken possession of his inheritance. 19Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan (flowing down) and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”

20Moses (drawn out) replied, “If you⁺ will do this—if you⁺ will arm yourselves before the LORD {YHWH} for battle, 21and if every one of your⁺ armed men crosses the Jordan (flowing down) before the LORD {YHWH}, until He has driven His enemies out before Him, 22then when the land is subdued before the LORD {YHWH}, you⁺ may return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel (he wrestles with God). And this land will belong to you⁺ as a possession before the LORD. 23But if you⁺ do not do this, you⁺ will certainly sin against the LORD {YHWH}—and be assured that your⁺ sin will find you⁺ out. 24Build cities for your⁺ little ones and folds for your⁺ flocks, but do what you⁺ have promised.”

25The Gadites (troop) and Reubenites (behold a son) said to Moses (drawn out), “Your servants will do just as our lord commands. 26Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will remain here in the cities of Gilead (rocky region). 27But your servants are equipped for war, and every man will cross over to the battle before the LORD {YHWH}, just as our lord says.”

28So Moses (drawn out) gave orders about them to Eleazar (God has helped) the priest, to Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity), and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God). 29And Moses (drawn out) said to them, “If the Gadites (troop) and Reubenites (behold a son) cross the Jordan (flowing down) with you⁺, with every man armed for battle before the LORD {YHWH}, and the land is subdued before you⁺, then you⁺ are to give them the land of Gilead (rocky region) as a possession. 30But if they do not arm themselves and go across with you⁺, then they must accept their possession among you⁺ in the land of Canaan (lowland).”

31The Gadites (troop) and Reubenites (behold a son) replied, “As the LORD {YHWH} has spoken to your servants, so we will do. 32We will cross over into the land of Canaan (lowland) armed before the LORD {YHWH}, that we may have our inheritance on this side of the Jordan (flowing down).”

33So Moses (drawn out) gave to the Gadites (troop), to the Reubenites (behold a son), and to the half-tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget) son of Joseph (YHWH has added) the kingdom of Sihon (warrior) king of the Amorites (sayers) and the kingdom of Og (long-necked) king of Bashan (fruitful)—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.

34And the Gadites (troop) built up Dibon (wasting), Ataroth (crowns), Aroer (ruins), 35Atroth-shophan (crowns of Shophan), Jazer (helped), Jogbehah (lofty), 36Beth-nimrah (house of the leopard), and Beth-haran (house of their mount) as fortified cities, and they built folds for their flocks.

37The Reubenites (behold a son) built up Heshbon (stronghold), Elealeh (God is ascending), Kiriathaim (two cities), 38as well as Nebo (prophet) and Baal-meon (lord of the habitation) (whose names were changed), and Sibmah (fragrance). And they renamed the cities they rebuilt.

39The descendants of Machir (sold) son of Manasseh (causing to forget) went to Gilead (rocky region), captured it, and drove out the Amorites (sayers) who were there. 40So Moses (drawn out) gave Gilead (rocky region) to the clan of Machir (sold) son of Manasseh (causing to forget), and they settled there. 41Jair (he enlightens), a descendant of Manasseh (causing to forget), went and captured their villages and called them (villages of Jair) Havvoth-jair.c 42And Nobah (barking) went and captured Kenath (possession) and its villages and called it Nobah, after his own name.