⁹ Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

²⁰ Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle^{(A) 21} and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him^(B)— ²² then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return^(C) and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession^(D) before the Lord.^(E)

²³ “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.^{(F) 24} Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks,^(G) but do what you have promised.^(H)”

²⁵ The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands.^{(I) 26} Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead.^{(J) 27} But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight^(K) before the Lord, just as our lord says.”

²⁸ Then Moses gave orders about them^(L) to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun^(M) and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes.^{(N) 29} He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you,^(O) you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.^(P)