Numbers 32:27

27 but thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith."

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 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke unto Moses, saying, "Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.

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

27 but thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith."

28 So concerning them, Moses commanded Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel.

29 And Moses said unto them, "If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man armed for battle before the LORD and the land shall be subdued before you, then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession.