Numbers 32:20

20 Moses said, "If you do what you say, take up arms before God for battle

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 But we won't go back home until every Israelite is in full possession of his inheritance.

19 We won't expect any inheritance west of the Jordan; we are claiming all our inheritance east of the Jordan."

20 Moses said, "If you do what you say, take up arms before God for battle

21 and together go across the Jordan ready, before God, to fight until God has cleaned his enemies out of the land,

22 then when the land is secure you will have fulfilled your duty to God and Israel. Then this land will be yours to keep before God.