²⁸ Then Moses gave orders about them^(A) to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun^(B) and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.^{(C) 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,^(D) you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.^{(E) 30} But if they do not cross over^(F) with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.^(G)”

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

¹⁸ I commanded you at that time: “The Lord your God has given^(A) you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites.^{(B) 19} However, your wives,^(C) your children and your livestock^(D) (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you, ²⁰ until the Lord gives rest to your fellow Israelites as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you.”

Eastern Tribes Return Home

22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh ² and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded,^(A) and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. ³ For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. ⁴ Now that the Lord your God has given them rest^(B) as he promised, return to your homes^(C) in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan.^{(D) 5} But be very careful to keep the commandment^(E) and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord^(F) your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands,^(G) to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.^(H)”

⁶ Then Joshua blessed^(I) them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. ⁷ (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan,^(J) and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side^(K) of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,^{(L) 8} saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock,^(M) with silver, gold, bronze and iron,^(N) and a great quantity of clothing—and divide^(O) the plunder^(P) from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

⁹ So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh^(Q) in Canaan to return to Gilead,^(R) their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.