^28 (A)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.”

^18 (A)“At the same time, I gave them the following instructions: ‘The Lord our God has given you this land east of the Jordan to occupy. Now arm your fighting men and send them across the Jordan ahead of the other tribes of Israel, to help them occupy their land. ¹⁹ Only your wives, children, and livestock—I know you have a lot of livestock—will remain behind in the towns that I have assigned to you. ²⁰ Help the other Israelites until they occupy the land that the Lord is giving them west of the Jordan and until the Lord lets them live there in peace, as he has already done here for you. After that, you may return to this land that I have assigned to you.’

Joshua Sends the Eastern Tribes Home

22 Then Joshua called together the people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh. ^2 (A)He said to them, “You have done everything that Moses the Lord's servant ordered you to do, and you have obeyed all my commands. ³ All this time you have never once deserted the other Israelites. You have been careful to obey the commands of the Lord your God. ⁴ Now, as he promised, the Lord your God has given the other Israelites peace. So go back home to the land which you claimed for your own, the land on the east side of the Jordan, that Moses, the Lord's servant, gave you. ⁵ Make sure you obey the law that Moses commanded you: love the Lord your God, do his will, obey his commandments, be faithful to him, and serve him with all your heart and soul.” ^6-8 Joshua sent them home with his blessing and with these words: “You are going back home very rich, with a lot of livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and many clothes. Share with your fellow tribesmen what you took from your enemies.” Then they left for home.

Moses had given land east of the Jordan to one half of the tribe of Manasseh, but to the other half Joshua had given land west of the Jordan, along with the other tribes.