1. Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideal for cattle,
2. the Gadites and the Reubenites came and addressed Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community. They said,
3. “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
4. the land that the Lord subdued before the community of Israel, is ideal for cattle, and your servants have cattle.”
5. So they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for our inheritance. Do not have us cross the Jordan River.”
6. Moses said to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Must your brothers go to war while you remain here?
7. Why do you frustrate the intent of the Israelites to cross over into the land which the Lord has given them?
8. Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.
9. When they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter the land that the Lord had given them.