Numbers 32:20

20 So Moses told them, "You must do these things. You must go before the Lord into 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 and we will not return home until every Israelite has received his land.

19 We won't take any of the land west of the Jordan River; our part of the land is east of the Jordan."

20 So Moses told them, "You must do these things. You must go before the Lord into battle

21 and cross the Jordan River armed, until the Lord forces out the enemy.

22 After the Lord helps us take the land, you may return home. You will have done your duty to the Lord and Israel, and you may have this land as your own.