Numbers 32:1-9 ▼

1 Now the Reubenites and Gadites had a very large number of livestock. Noticing that the land of Jazer and of Gilead was a place suited to livestock,

2 the Gadites and Reubenites came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community and said,

3 “The region of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Baal-meon—

4 the land which the LORD has laid low before the community of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.”

5 They continued, “If we find favor with you, let this land be given to your servants as their possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”

6 But Moses answered the Gadites and Reubenites: “Are your kindred, then, to go to war, while you remain here?

7 Why do you wish to discourage the Israelites from crossing to the land the LORD has given them?

8 That is just what your ancestors did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to reconnoiter the land.

9 They went up to the Wadi Eshcol and reconnoitered the land, then so discouraged the Israelites that they would not enter the land the LORD had given them.