Numbers 32:20

20 So Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves {before} Yahweh for 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 {Israelites} each obtain their inheritance for themselves.

19 For we will not take possession with them from across the Jordan and beyond because our inheritance has come to us from across the Jordan to the east."

20 So Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves {before} Yahweh for the war,

21 and everyone of you armed cross the Jordan {before} Yahweh until he has driven out his enemies from before him,

22 and the land is subdued {before} Yahweh, then afterward you will return and be free of obligation from Yahweh and from Israel, and this land will be your property {before} Yahweh.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "in the presence of"