Numbers 32:27

27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord orders."

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 sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben said to Moses, "Your servants will do as my lord commands.
26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall remain there in the cities of Gilead;
27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord orders."
28 So Moses gave command concerning them to Elea'zar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel.
29 And Moses said to them, "If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, every man who is armed to battle before the LORD, will pass with you over the Jordan and the land shall be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession;
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.