The descendants of Gad and Reuben asked Moses to grant them possession of land east of the Jordan instead of going with all of Israel to take the promised land. Moses reminded them of their fathers who encouraged the people not to go into the promised land when the spies returned from the land, and the punishment by God not to allow that generation to enter the land. The people of Gad and Reuben agreed that they would cross the Jordan with all of Israel to fight, but they would then return to this land that they possessed if Moses would agree to allow them to take it. Moses agreed and they took the land and built cities for themselves.