Very large herds belonged to the children (tribes) of Reuvein and Gad—[an] extremely large [number]; and they saw the land of Ya’zeir and the land of Gilad, and behold, the region was an area [suited] for livestock.

The tribes of Reuvein and Gad came and spoke to Moshe and to Elozor the kohein, and to the princes of the community, saying:

“Ataros, Divon, Ya’zeir, [Machlelta and Malbeshta and Kumrin,] Nimrah [Beis Nimrin], Cheshbon [Beis Chushbana], Elalei [Baalei Debaba], Sevam [Kima], Nevo [Moshe’s burial place] and Be’on,

the land that Adonoy struck down [its inhabitants] before Bnei Yisroel, is an area [suited] for livestock; and your servants have livestock.”

They said: “If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not bring us over the Yardein.”

Moshe said to the children (tribes) of Gad and Reuvein: “Should your brothers go out to war while you settle here?

Why do you dishearten Bnei Yisroel from crossing over to the land that Adonoy has given them?

This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadeish Barnei’a [Rekam Geyah] to look at the land.

They went up to Nachal Eshkol and saw the land. They then disheartened Bnei Yisroel from coming [so as not to go up] into the land that Adonoy has given them.

Adonoy displayed His anger on that day and He swore, saying:

’None of the men who came up from Egypt will see—those who are twenty years and above—the land that I swore to Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, for they did not follow Me fully [fear Me].

Except for Kaleiv, son of Yefuneh, the Kenizite, and Yehoshua, son of Nun, because they followed [the fear of] Adonoy fully.’

Adonoy displayed anger against Yisroel and He made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the end (death) of the entire generation that had done evil in the eyes of [before] Adonoy.

Behold, you have now risen in the place of your fathers as a group [disciples] of sinners, to add to the [mighty] wrath of Adonoy against Yisroel.

If you will turn away from following [fearing] Him, He will again place [delay] them in the wilderness. and you will destroy this entire nation.”

They (the tribes of Reuvein and Gad) approached him (Moshe) and said: “We will build enclosures for our flocks here and cities for our children.

We will then arm ourselves rapidly, and will be ready to go before Bnei Yisroel until we have brought them to their place. Our children will dwell in fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

We will not return to our homes until each person of Bnei Yisroel takes possession of his hereditary property.

But we do not want to take possession with them across the Yardein and beyond, for, our inheritance came to us to the east of the Yardein.”

Moshe said to them: “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before [the nation of] Adonoy and go forth to the war,

and every armed man will cross the Yardein, before [the nation of] Adonoy, until He has driven His enemies before Him,

and the land is conquered before [the nation of] Adonoy—afterwards you will return. You will then be vindicated from [before] Adonoy and from Yisroel, and this land will become yours permanently, before Adonoy.

But if you will not do this, behold, you will have sinned against [before] Adonoy and you must realize that your sin will find you!

Build for yourselves cities for your children and enclosures for your sheep. But what you have expressed verbally, you must fulfill.”

The tribe of Gad and Reuvein said to Moshe saying: “Your servants will do as my master instructs.

Our children, wives, cattle and all livestock will remain there in the cities of Gil’ad.

And your servants will cross over—all those in the army—before [the nation of] Adonoy, to the war, as my master commands.”

Moshe commanded to them, Elozor the kohein, Yehoshua, son of Nun, and the heads of the tribes of Bnei Yisroel.

Moshe said to them: “If the tribe of Gad and Reuvein will cross the Yardein with you, every man that is armed for battle before [the nation of] Adonoy, and the land is conquered before you, you shall give them the land of Gil’ad as a permanent possession.

But if they do not cross over with you, armed for battle, then they shall take possession among you in the land of Canaan.”

The tribes of Gad and Reuvein answered, saying: “As Adonoy has spoken to your servants, so shall we do.

We will cross over armed for battle before [the nation of] Adonoy, to the land of Canaan, and we shall [then] have our permanent inheritance on this side of the Yardein.”

Moshe gave to them—to the tribe of Gad, to the tribe of Reuvein and to half the tribe of Menashe son of Yoseif—the empire of Sichon, king of the Emorites and the empire of Og, king of the Bashan [Masnon], the land along with the cities within their borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.

The sons of Gad built up Divon, Ataros, Aro’eir,

Atros Shofan, Yazeir, Yogbehah [the Heights],

Beis Nimrah, and Beis Haran as fortified cities and sheep pens.

The tribe of Reuvein built up Cheshbon, El’alei, Kiryasayim,

Nevo, Ba’al Me’on—their names having been changed, and Sivmah. They retained the names of the other cities that they built.

The sons of Machir, son of Menashe, went to Gil’ad and captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were in it.

Moshe gave the Gil’ad to Machir, son of Menashe, and he settled in it.

Yair, son of Menashe, went and conquered their villages and called them Chavos Yair.

Novach went and conquered Kenas and its suburbs, and called it Novach, after his own name.