Numbers 32

1 Nowe the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad had an exceeding great multitude of cattell: and they sawe the lande of Iazer, and the lande of Gilead, that it was an apt place for cattel.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad had large numbers of livestock and saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead was a good place to rear them.

2 Then the children of Gad, and the childre of Reuben came, and spake vnto Moses and to Eleazar the Priest, and vnto the princes of the Congregation, saying,

So they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite leaders and said,

3 The land of Ataroth, and Dibon, and Iazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

“The towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

4 Which countrey the Lord smote before the Congregation of Israel, is a lande meete for cattell, and thy seruants haue cattell:

which the Lord conquered in full view of the Israelites, are well-suited for the livestock that we your servants own.”

5 Wherefore, said they, if we haue foud grace in thy sight, let this lande be giuen vnto thy seruants for a possession, and bring vs not ouer Iorde.

They continued, “Please respond to our request favorably: give us this land. Don't make us cross the Jordan.”

6 And Moses said vnto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren goe to warre, and ye tary heere?

In reply Moses asked the tribes of Gad and Reuben, “Are you expecting your brothers to go and fight while you just sit here?

7 Wherefore now discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel, to goe ouer into the lande, which the Lord hath giuen them?

Why discourage the Israelites from crossing into the country that the Lord has given them?

8 Thus did your fathers when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the lande.

This is just what your fathers did when I sent them out from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land.

9 For when they went vp euen vnto the riuer of Eshcol, and sawe the land: they discouraged the heart of the childre of Israel, that they woulde not goe into the lande, which the Lord had giuen them.

After your fathers traveled up the valley of Eshcol and explored the land, they discouraged the Israelites, persuading them not to enter the country that the Lord had given them.

10 And the Lordes wrath was kindled the same day, and he did sweare, saying,

As a result, they made the Lord very angry that day, and he swore this oath,

11 None of the men that came out of Egypt from twentie yeere olde and aboue, shall see the land for the which I sware vnto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Iaakob, because they haue not wholly followed me:

‘Not a single one of those I saved from Egypt who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they were not completely committed to me—

12 Except Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh the Kenesite, and Ioshua the sonne of Nun: for they haue constantly followed the Lord.

no one except Caleb, son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua, son of Nun, because they were completely committed to me.’

13 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and made them wander in the wildernesse fourty yeeres, vntill all the generation that had done euill in the sight of the Lord were consumed.

The Lord was angry with Israel, and made them wander around in the desert for forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in his sight had died.

14 And behold, ye are risen vp in your fathers steade as an encrease of sinfull men, still to augment the fierce wrath of the Lord, toward Israel.

Now look at you, you brood of sinners who have come to take your fathers' place to make the Lord even angrier with Israel!

15 For if ye turne away from following him, he will yet againe leaue the people in the wildernesse, and ye shall destroy all this folke.

If you give up following him, he will abandon these people in the desert once again, and their deaths will be your fault!”

16 And they went neere to him, and said, We will builde sheepe foldes here for our sheepe, and for our cattell, and cities for our children.

Then the tribes of Gad and Reuben came to Moses and told him, “We would plan to build stone walls to keep our livestock safe and towns for our children.

17 But we our selues will be readie armed to go before the children of Israel, vntill we haue brought them vnto their place: but our childre shall dwell in the defenced cities, because of the inhabitants of the lande.

But we will still get ourselves ready for battle, and we will be prepared to lead the Israelites until they can safely occupy their land. In the meantime, our children will stay behind, living in the fortified towns to protect them from the local people.

18 We will not returne vnto our houses, vntil the children of Israel haue inherited, euery man his inheritance.

We won't return to our homes until every Israelite is in possession of their allotted land.

19 Neither wil we inherite with them beyond Iorden and on that side, because our inheritance is fallen to vs on this side Iorden Eastwarde.

However, we won't own any land on the other side of the Jordan because we've received this land to own on this eastern side of the Jordan.”

20 And Moses saide vnto them, If ye will doe this thing, and goe armed before the Lord to warre:

Moses responded, “If this is what you will actually do, if you will get yourselves ready for battle under the Lord's direction,

21 And will goe euery one of you in harnesse ouer Iorden before the Lord, vntill he hath cast out his enemies from his sight:

and if all your troops cross the Jordan with the Lord until he has driven out his enemies ahead of him,

22 And vntill the land be subdued before the Lord, then ye shall returne and be innocent toward the Lord, and toward Israel: and this land shalbe your possession before the Lord.

then once the country is conquered with the Lord's help then you may return, and you will have fulfilled your obligations to the Lord and to Israel. You will own this land, granted to you by the Lord.

23 But if ye will not doe so, beholde, ye haue sinned against the Lord, and be sure, that your sinne will finde you out.

But if you fail to do this, you will clearly be sinning against the Lord, and the consequences of your sin will catch up with you.

24 Builde you then cities for your children and folds for your sheepe, and do that ye haue spoke.

Go ahead and build towns for your children and stone walls for your flocks, but make sure you do what you've promised!”

25 Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake vnto Moses, saying, Thy seruats will doe as my lorde commandeth:

The tribes of Gad and Reuben promised Moses, “Sir, we your servants will do just as you have ordered.

26 Our childre, our wiues, our sheepe, and al our cattell shall remaine there in the cities of Gilead,

Our wives and children, our livestock and all our animals, will all remain here in the towns of Gilead.

27 But thy seruants will goe euery one armed to warre before the Lord for to fight, as my lorde saith.

But we your servants are ready for battle, and all our troops will cross over to fight with the Lord's help, just as you have said, sir.”

28 So concerning them, Moses commanded Eleazar the Priest, and Ioshua the sonne of Nun, and the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel:

Moses gave the following instructions about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua, son of Nun, and to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel.

29 And Moses said vnto them, If the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben, will go with you ouer Iorden, all armed to fight before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you, ye shall giue the the lad of Gilead for a possessio:

Moses told them, “If the tribes of Gadites and Reuben cross the Jordan with you, with all their troops ready for battle with the Lord's help, and the land is conquered as you advance, then give them the land of Gilead to own.

30 But if they will not goe ouer with you armed, then they shall haue their possessions amog you in the land of Canaan.

But if they don't get themselves ready for battle and cross over with you, then they must accept their allotted land among you in the country of Canaan.”

31 And the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the Lord hath said vnto thy seruants, so will we doe.

The tribes of Gad and Reuben responded, “We will do just as the Lord has told us, your servants.

32 We will goe armed before the Lord into the lande of Canaan: that the possession of our inheritance may be to vs on this side Iorden.

We will cross over and enter the country of Canaan ready for battle with the Lord's help, so that we may have our allotted share of land on this side of the Jordan.”

33 So Moses gaue vnto them, euen to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to halfe the tribe of Manasseh the sonne of Ioseph, the kingdome of Sihon King of the Amorites, and the kingdome of Og King of Bashan, the lande with the cities thereof and coastes, euen the cities of the countrey round about.

So Moses gave to the tribes of Gad and Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan. This land included its towns and their surrounding area.

34 Then the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,

The people of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,

35 And Atroth, Shophan, and Iazer, and Iogbehah,

Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

36 And Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, defenced cities: also sheepe foldes.

Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified towns, and they built stone walls for their flocks.

37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,

The people of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

38 And Nebo, and Baal-meon, and turned their names, and Shibmah: and gaue other names vnto the cities which they built.

as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (changing their names), and Sibmah. In fact they renamed those towns they rebuilt.

39 And the children of Machir the sonne of Manasseh went to Gilead, and tooke it, and put out the Amorites that dwelt therein.

The descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, attacked Gilead and captured it. They drove out the Amorites who were living there.

40 Then Moses gaue Gilead vnto Machir the sonne of Manasseh, and he dwelt therein.

So Moses gave Gilead to the family of Machir, son of Manasseh, and they settled there.

41 And Iair the sonne of Manasseh went and tooke the small townes thereof, and called them Hauoth Iair.

Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, attacked their villages and captured them. He named them the Villages of Jair.

42 Also Nobah went and tooke Kenath, with the villages thereof and called it Nobah, after his owne name.

Nobah attacked Kenath and captured it, along with its villages. He named it Nobah after himself.