In Numbers 32:1–42, Moses gave the inheritance east of the Jordan to Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad. He repeated this information in his final farewell speech on the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 3:12–20). Joshua will now give even more precise border details, showing himself to be Moses’ successor and setting to rest the minds of the eastern tribes, who initially questioned his leadership (Joshua 1:17).1 Most likely this division is repeated here to emphasize the unity of Israel being on both sides of the Jordan River.2
8 With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: