Numbers 32:1-20 ▼

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.

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,

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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 Lorde had giuen them.

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

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 Abraha, to Izhak, and to Iaakob, because they haue not wholly followed me:

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

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 Lorde were consumed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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