Numbers 32:27

27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord says.

Numbers 32:27 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:27

But thy servants will pass over
The river Jordan, and go into the land of Canaan:

every man armed for war;
Moses had required that all should go over, and they consent to it, and promise that everyone should, though this was not insisted on when they came to it, for only about 40,000 went over, ( Joshua 4:13 ) , whereas the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh, numbered more than 110,000; see ( Numbers 26:7 Numbers 26:18 Numbers 26:34 ) :

before the Lord to battle, as my lord saith;
for now, instead of saying, "before the children of Israel", a phrase they first used, they say, "before the Lord", as Moses had expressed it.

Numbers 32:27 In-Context

25 The children of Gad and the children of Re'uven spoke to Moshe, saying, Your servants will do as my lord commands.

26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gil`ad;

27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord says.

28 So Moshe gave charge concerning them to El`azar the Kohen, and to Yehoshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el.

29 Moshe said to them, If the children of Gad and the children of Re'uven will pass with you over the Yarden, every man who is armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then you shall give them the land of Gil`ad for a possession: