The Transjordan Tribes
1The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon— 4the land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. 5If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
6Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? 7Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them? 8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. 9After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them. 10The Lord’s anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: 11‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob— 12not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’ 13The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.
14“And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.”
16Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. 17But we will arm ourselves for battle32:17 Septuagint; Hebrew will be quick to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance. 19We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”
20Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle 21and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him— 22then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord.
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. 24Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”
25The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands. 26Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead. 27But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord, just as our lord says.”
28Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes. 29He 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, you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession. 30But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”
31The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the Lord has said. 32We will cross over before the Lord into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.”
33Then Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and the territory around them.
34The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. 37And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim, 38as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.
39The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there. 40So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair.32:41 Or them the settlements of Jair 42And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.
Makabila Ngʼambo Ya Yordani
(Kumbukumbu 3:12-22)
132:1 Amu 5:16; Hes 21:32; Mwa 31:21; Kut 12:38Kabila la Wareubeni na Wagadi, waliokuwa na makundi makubwa ya ngʼombe, kondoo na mbuzi, waliona kuwa nchi ya Yazeri na nchi ya Gileadi ni nzuri kwa mifugo. 232:2 Law 4:22; Hes 27:2; 2Sam 24:5; Isa 16:8-9Hivyo walimjia Mose, na kuhani Eleazari na viongozi wa jumuiya, na kuwaambia, 332:3 Yos 16:2; 18:13; Hes 21:30; Yos 13:27; Hes 21:25; Isa 15:4; 16:9; Yer 48:34; Yos 13:19; Isa 16:8; Yer 48:32; Hes 33:47“Atarothi, Diboni, Yazeri, Nimra, Heshboni, Eleale, Sebamu, Nebo na Beoni, 432:4 Hes 21:34; Kut 12:38nchi ambayo Bwana ameishinda mbele ya wana wa Israeli, inafaa kwa mifugo, nao watumishi wako wana mifugo. 532:5 Hes 13:29Kama tumepata kibali mbele ya macho yako, nchi hii na ipewe watumishi wako kama milki yetu. Usitufanye tuvuke Yordani.”
6Mose akawaambia Wagadi na Wareubeni, “Je, watu wa nchi yenu watakwenda vitani wakati ninyi mmeketi hapa? 732:7 Hes 13:27–14:4Kwa nini mmewakatisha Waisraeli tamaa wasivuke katika nchi ambayo Bwana amewapa? 832:8 Hes 13:3; Kum 1:19-25; 1:22Hivi ndivyo baba zenu walivyofanya wakati nilipowatuma kutoka Kadesh-Barnea kuipeleleza nchi. 932:9 Hes 13:23; Kum 1:24Baada ya kufika kwenye Bonde la Eshkoli na kuitazama nchi, waliwakatisha tamaa Waisraeli wasiingie katika nchi ambayo Bwana alikuwa amewapa. 1032:10 Hes 11:1; 14:20-23; 14:11; Za 95:11; Eze 20:15; Ebr 3:8-19Siku ile hasira ya Bwana iliwaka naye akaapa kiapo hiki: 1132:11 Kut 30:14; Hes 1:1; 14:23; Kum 1:35; Hes 14:24; 14:28‘Kwa kuwa hawakunifuata kwa moyo wote, hakuna mtu yeyote mwenye miaka ishirini au zaidi ambaye alikuja kutoka Misri atakayeona nchi niliyoahidi kwa kiapo kwa Abrahamu, Isaki na Yakobo; 1232:12 Hes 14:24; Za 63:8; Kum 1:35; Yos 14:8, 9; Ay 4:7; Za 37:29; Mit 11:31hakuna hata mmoja isipokuwa Kalebu mwana wa Yefune, Mkenizi, na Yoshua mwana wa Nuni, kwa sababu walimfuata Bwana kwa moyo wote.’ 1332:13 Kut 4:14; Hes 14:28-35; 26:64, 65Hasira ya Bwana iliwaka dhidi ya Waisraeli na akawafanya watangetange katika jangwa kwa miaka arobaini, mpaka kizazi chote cha wale waliofanya maovu mbele yake kimeangamia.
1432:14 Kum 1:34; Za 78:59“Nanyi mko hapa, uzao wa wenye dhambi, mkisimamia mahali pa baba zenu na mkimfanya Bwana kuwakasirikia Waisraeli hata zaidi. 1532:15 Kum 30:17-18; 2Nya 7:20; Yos 22:16, 18; 2Nya 15:2Kama mkigeuka na mkiacha kumfuata, atawaacha tena watu hawa wote jangwani, na mtakuwa sababu ya maangamizi yao.”
1632:16 1Sam 24:3; Za 50:9; 78:70; Kut 12:38; Kum 3:19Ndipo wakamjia Mose na kumwambia, “Tungalitaka kujenga mazizi hapa kwa ajili ya mifugo yetu na miji kwa ajili ya wanawake wetu na watoto. 1732:17 Kum 3:18; Yos 4:12, 13; Hes 22:4; Kum 3:20Lakini sisi tuko tayari kuchukua silaha zetu na kutangulia mbele ya Waisraeli mpaka tutakapowaleta mahali pao. Wakati huo wanawake wetu na watoto wataishi katika miji yenye ngome, kwa ajili ya ulinzi dhidi ya wenyeji wa nchi. 1832:18 Yos 22:1-4Hatutarudi nyumbani mwetu mpaka kila Mwisraeli apokee urithi wake. 1932:19 Hes 21:33; Yos 12:1; 22:7Hatutapokea urithi wowote pamoja nao ngʼambo ya Yordani, kwa sababu urithi wetu umekuja kwetu upande wa mashariki ya Yordani.”
2032:20 Kum 3:18; Yos 4:12-13Kisha Mose akawaambia, “Kama mtafanya jambo hili, kama mtajivika silaha mbele za Bwana kwa ajili ya vita, 21na kama ninyi nyote mtakwenda mmejivika silaha ngʼambo ya Yordani mbele za Bwana mpaka awe amewafukuza adui zake mbele zake, 2232:22 Yos 22:4; Law 14:34; Kum 3:18-20hadi wakati nchi itakapokuwa imeshindwa mbele za Bwana, ndipo mtaweza kurudi na kuwa huru kutoka masharti yenu kwa Bwana na Israeli. Nayo nchi hii itakuwa milki yenu mbele za Bwana.
2332:23 Mwa 4:7; Isa 3:9; Mwa 44:16; Za 140:11; Mit 13:21; Isa 59:12; Rum 2:9“Lakini mkishindwa kufanya hili, mtakuwa mnatenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana; nanyi kuweni na hakika kuwa dhambi yenu itawapata. 2432:24 Hes 30:2; 32:16, 34Jengeni miji kwa ajili ya wanawake na watoto wenu, na mazizi kwa ajili ya mbuzi na kondoo zenu, lakini fanyeni yale mliyoahidi.”
2532:25 Yos 1:16; 22:2Wagadi na Wareubeni wakamwambia Mose, “Sisi watumishi wako tutafanya kama bwana wetu anavyotuagiza. 2632:26 Yos 1:14; 12:2; 22:9; 2Sam 2:9; 1Nya 5:9Watoto na wake zetu, makundi ya mbuzi na kondoo, na makundi ya ngʼombe zetu, watabaki hapa katika miji ya Gileadi. 2732:27 Yos 4:12Lakini watumishi wenu, kila mwanaume aliyevaa silaha za vita, watavuka ngʼambo kupigana mbele za Bwana, sawa kama bwana wetu anavyosema.”
2832:28 Kum 3:18; Yos 1:13; Hes 11:28; 1:16Kisha Mose akatoa amri kuhusu wao kwa kuhani Eleazari, na Yoshua mwana wa Nuni na viongozi wa jamaa za makabila ya Waisraeli. 2932:29 Hes 22:4Mose akawaambia, “Ikiwa Wagadi na Wareubeni, kila mwanaume aliyevaa silaha za vita, atavuka Yordani pamoja nanyi mbele za Bwana, basi wakati mtakapoishinda nchi iliyoko mbele yenu, wapeni nchi ya Gileadi kama milki yao. 30Lakini kama hawatavuka pamoja nanyi wakiwa wamevaa silaha za vita, lazima wakubali kupokea milki yao pamoja nanyi katika nchi ya Kanaani.”
31Wagadi na Wareubeni wakajibu, “Watumishi wako watafanya lile Bwana alilosema. 3232:32 Yos 12:6Tutavuka mbele za Bwana kuingia Kanaani tukiwa tumevaa silaha za vita, lakini mali tutakayoirithi itakuwa ngʼambo hii ya Yordani.”
3332:33 Yos 13:24-28; 1Sam 13:7; Yos 1:12; Hes 21:21; Kum 2:26; Yos 12:5; Hes 21:24; 34:24; Kum 2:36; Yos 12:6Kisha Mose akawapa Wagadi, Wareubeni, na nusu ya kabila la Manase mwana wa Yosefu ufalme wa Sihoni mfalme wa Waamori, na ufalme wa Ogu mfalme wa Bashani, nchi yote pamoja na miji yake, na nchi inayowazunguka.
3432:34 Kum 2:36; 3:13; 4:48; Yos 12:2; 13:9; Amu 11:26; 1Sam 30:28; 1Nya 5:8; Yer 48:19; Hes 33:45Wagadi wakajenga Diboni, Atarothi, Aroeri, 3532:35 Amu 8:11Atroth-Shofani, Yazeri, Yogbeha, 36Beth-Nimra na Beth-Harani kama miji iliyozungushiwa ngome, tena wakajenga mazizi kwa ajili ya makundi yao ya mbuzi na kondoo. 3732:37 Hes 21:25; Yos 13; 19; 1Nya 6:76; Yer 48:1; Eze 25:9Nao Wareubeni wakajenga upya miji ya Heshboni, Eleale na Kiriathaimu, 3832:38 Isa 15:2; 46:1; Yer 48:1, 22; Hes 32:3; Kut 23:13pia Nebo na Baal-Meoni (majina ya hiyo miji yalibadilishwa) na Sibma. Miji waliyoijenga upya waliipa majina.
3932:39 Mwa 50:23; Hes 26:29; Kum 2:36; Mwa 10:16; Yos 17:1Wazao wa Makiri mwana wa Manase walikwenda Gileadi, wakaiteka nchi na kuwafukuza Waamori waliokuwa huko. 4032:40 Mwa 50:23; Kum 3:15Kwa hiyo Mose akawapa Wamakiri, wazao wa Manase, nchi ya Gileadi, nao wakakaa huko. 4132:41 Kum 3:14; Yos 13:30; Amu 10:4; 1Nya 2:23Yairi, mzao wa Manase, akateka makao yao, akayaita Hawoth-Yairi. 4232:42 1Nya 2:23; Amu 8:11; 1Sam 15:12; 2Sam 18:18Naye Noba akateka Kenathi na makao yaliyoizunguka, akayaita Noba kwa jina lake.
