²⁰ So ^(A)Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the Lord for the war, ²¹ and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the Lord, until he has ^(B)driven out his enemies from before him ²² and the land is subdued before the Lord; then after that you shall return and be free of obligation to the Lord and to Israel, and ^(C)this land shall be your possession before the Lord. ²³ But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and ^(D)be sure your sin will find you out. ^24 (E)Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised.” ²⁵ And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben said to Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. ^26 (F)Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead, ^27 (G)but your servants will pass over, every man who is ^(H)armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord orders.”

²⁸ So ^(I)Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest and to ^(J)Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel.