called them arrant cowards, and said they had only contrived a
decent excuse for that cowardice; and that they had a mind to
live in luxury and ease, while all the rest were laboring with
great pains to obtain the land they were desirous to have; and
that they were not willing to march along, and undergo the
remaining hard service, whereby they were, under the Divine
promise, to pass over Jordan, and overcome those our enemies
which God had shown them, and so obtain their land. But these
tribes, when they saw that Moses was angry with them, and when
they could not deny but he had a just cause to be displeased at
their petition, made an apology for themselves; and said, that it
was not on account of their fear of dangers, nor on account of
their laziness, that they made this request to him, but that they
might leave the prey they had gotten in places of safety, and
thereby might be more expedite, and ready to undergo
difficulties, and to fight battles. They added this also, that
when they had built cities, wherein they might preserve their
children, and wives, and possessions, if he would bestow them
upon them, they would go along with the rest of the army.
Hereupon Moses was pleased with what they said; so he called for
Eleazar the high priest, and Joshua, and the chief of the tribes,
and permitted these tribes to possess the land of the Amorites;
but upon this condition, that they should join with their kinsmen
in the war until all things were settled. Upon which condition
they took possession of the country, and built them strong
cities, and put into them their children and their wives, and
whatsoever else they had that might be an impediment to the
labors of their future marches.

4. Moses also now built those ten cities which were to be of the