¹⁸ “I commanded you at that time: The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your valiant men will cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers the Israelites.

¹³ “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.’^{(A) 14} Your wives, dependents, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your best soldiers must cross over in battle formation^[a] ahead of your brothers and help them ¹⁵ until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they too possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. You may then return to the land of your inheritance^(B) and take possession of what Moses the Lord’s servant^(C) gave you on the east side of the Jordan.”

¹² The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh went in battle formation in front of the Israelites,^(A) as Moses had instructed them. ¹³ About forty thousand equipped for war crossed to the plains of Jericho in the Lord’s presence.