¹⁶ Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens^(A) here for our livestock^(B) and cities for our women and children. ¹⁷ But we will arm ourselves for battle^[a] and go ahead of the Israelites^(C) until we have brought them to their place.^(D) Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁸ We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.^(E)