²⁰ Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle^{(A) 21} and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him^(B)— ²² then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return^(C) and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession^(D) before the Lord.^(E)

²³ “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.^{(F) 24} Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks,^(G) but do what you have promised.^(H)”

²⁵ The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands.^{(I) 26} Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead.^{(J) 27} But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight^(K) before the Lord, just as our lord says.”

²⁸ Then Moses gave orders about them^(L) to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun^(M) and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.^{(N) 29} He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you,^(O) you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.^{(P) 30} But if they do not cross over^(Q) with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.^(R)”

³¹ The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the Lord has said.^{(S) 32} We will cross over before the Lord into Canaan armed,^(T) but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.^(U)”

¹⁴ Your wives,^(A) your children and your livestock may stay in the land^(B) that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle,^(C) must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.^(D) You are to help them ¹⁵ until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”^(E)