Numbers 32:20

20 Moshe said to them, If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before the LORD to the war,

Numbers 32:20 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:20

And Moses said unto them
Being better disposed towards them, and more satisfied with the reasonableness of their request, it being explained unto him:

if ye will do this thing;
which they had promised:

if ye will go armed before the Lord to war;
they had said they would go ready armed before the children of Israel, but Moses expresses it "before the Lord"; which is more agreeable to their encampment and order in marching, for not the standard of Reuben but that of Judah went foremost, yet the standard of Reuben marched directly before the sanctuary bore by the Kohathites, ( Numbers 10:18 Numbers 10:21 ) , and so might be properly said to go before the Lord, who dwelt there.

Numbers 32:20 In-Context

18 We will not return to our houses, until the children of Yisra'el have inherited every man his inheritance.

19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Yarden, and forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of the Yarden eastward.

20 Moshe said to them, If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before the LORD to the war,

21 and every armed man of you will pass over the Yarden before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD; then afterward you shall return, and be guiltless towards the LORD, and towards Yisra'el; and this land shall be to you for a possession before the LORD.