16 Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,

17 but ^awe ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.  ‡

19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, ^abecause our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.”  ‡

20 Then ^aMoses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the Lord for the war,  ‡