Numbers 32:17

17 and we will arm ourselves and go as an advanced guard before the children of Israel, until we shall have brought them into their place; and our possessions shall remain in walled cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

Numbers 32:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:17

But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of
Israel
This they said to free themselves from the charge of cowardice, and that they did not mean to sit still while their brethren went to war; they were willing to put on their armour, and be ready to meet the enemy upon the borders of the land, and engage with them, and to expose their lives in favour of their brethren:

until we have brought them unto their place;
to the land of Canaan, the place designed for them, and given unto them, to the possession of it, and a settlement in it:

and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the
inhabitants of the land;
where they might be safe from them, which they proposed to repair and refortify for the security of them, while they went with their brethren into the land of Canaan, to put them into possession of that, of which they made not the least doubt; and so served to clear them of suspicion of any distrust they had of entering into and possessing the land, which might tend to discourage the people.

Numbers 32:17 In-Context

15 For ye will turn away from him to desert him yet once more in the wilderness, and ye will sin against this whole congregation.

16 And they came to him, and said, We will build here folds for our cattle, and cities for our possessions;

17 and we will arm ourselves and go as an advanced guard before the children of Israel, until we shall have brought them into their place; and our possessions shall remain in walled cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

18 We will not return to our houses till the children of Israel shall have been distributed, each to his own inheritance.

19 And we will not any longer inherit with them from the other side of Jordan and onwards, because we have our full inheritance on the side beyond Jordan eastward.