Numbers 32:15-17

Good News Translation

¹⁵ If you people of Reuben and Gad refuse to follow him now, he will once again abandon all these people in the wilderness, and you will be responsible for their destruction.”

¹⁶ They approached Moses and said, “First, allow us to build stone enclosures here for our sheep and fortified towns for our dependents. ¹⁷ Then we will be ready to go with the other Israelites into battle and lead the attack until we have settled them in the land that will be theirs. In the meantime, our dependents can live here in the fortified towns, safe from the people of this land.