Numbers 32:20
New International Version
Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle

New Living Translation
Then Moses said, “If you keep your word and arm yourselves for the LORD’s battles,

English Standard Version
So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war,

Berean Standard Bible
Moses replied, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,

King James Bible
And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,

New King James Version
Then Moses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

New American Standard Bible
So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

NASB 1995
So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

NASB 1977
So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

Legacy Standard Bible
So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before Yahweh for the war,

Amplified Bible
Moses replied, “If you will do as you say, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for war,

Christian Standard Bible
Moses replied to them, “If you do this—if you arm yourselves for battle before the LORD,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Moses replied to them, “If you do this—if you arm yourselves for battle before the LORD,

American Standard Version
And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will arm yourselves to go before Jehovah to the war,

Contemporary English Version
Moses said: You promised that you would be ready to fight for the LORD.

English Revised Version
And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing; If ye will arm yourselves to go before the LORD to the war,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Moses answered, "Do what you have said. In the LORD's presence have all your armed men get ready for battle.

Good News Translation
Moses answered, "If you really mean what you say, then here in the presence of the LORD get ready to go into battle.

International Standard Version
"If you do this," Moses replied to them, "that is, if you equip yourselves for war in the LORD's presence

Majority Standard Bible
Moses replied, ?If you will do this?if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,

NET Bible
Then Moses replied, "If you will do this thing, and if you will arm yourselves for battle before the LORD,

New Heart English Bible
Moses said to them, "If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before the LORD to the war,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,

World English Bible
Moses said to them: “If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before Yahweh to the war,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses says to them, “If you do this thing, if you are armed before YHWH for battle,

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith unto them, 'If ye do this thing: if ye are armed before Jehovah for battle,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will say to them, If ye will do this word, if ye will arm yourselves before Jehovah for battle,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses said to them: If you do what you promise, go on well appointed for war before the Lord:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Moses said to them: “If you accomplish what you have promised, you may go out, equipped for battle, before the Lord.

New American Bible
Moses said to them in reply: “If you do this—if you march as troops before the LORD into battle

New Revised Standard Version
So Moses said to them, “If you do this—if you take up arms to go before the LORD for the war,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Moses said to them, If you will do this thing and arm yourselves before the LORD for war,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe said to them, “If you make this answer, also equip yourselves before LORD JEHOVAH for battle,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses said unto them: 'If ye will do this thing: if ye will arm yourselves to go before the LORD to the war,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses said to them, If ye will do according to these words, if ye will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Tribes East of the Jordan
19Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.” 20Moses replied, “If you will do this— if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, 21and if every one of your armed men crosses the Jordan before the LORD, until He has driven His enemies out before Him,…

Cross References
Joshua 1:12-15
But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, / “Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’ / Your wives, your young children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your mighty men of valor must be armed for battle to cross over ahead of your brothers and help them, ...

Deuteronomy 3:18-20
At that time I commanded you: “The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor are to cross over, armed for battle, ahead of your brothers, the Israelites. / But your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—may remain in the cities I have given you, / until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as He has to you, and they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may return to the possession I have given you.”

Joshua 22:1-6
Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh / and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. / All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God. ...

Judges 5:23
‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

1 Chronicles 5:18-22
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors—valiant men who carried the shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for battle. / They waged war against the Hagrites, as well as Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. / And because they cried out to God in battle, they were helped against their enemies, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands. Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers. ...

Hebrews 4:8-11
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. / There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. ...

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:4
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. / Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. / For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

1 Corinthians 12:25-26
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. / If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ...

2 Timothy 2:3-4
Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. / A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. / Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

1 Samuel 30:24
Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.”

2 Samuel 10:12
Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Moses said to them, If you will do this thing, if you will go armed before the LORD to war,

Deuteronomy 3:18-20
And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war…

Joshua 1:13-15
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land…

Joshua 4:12,13
And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: …

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Numbers 32
1. The Reubenites and Gadites ask for inheritance on the east side of Jordan
6. Moses reproves them
16. They offer him conditions with which he is content
33. Moses assigns them the land
39. They conquer it.














If you do this
This phrase introduces a conditional statement, emphasizing the importance of obedience and commitment. In the Hebrew text, the word "אם" (im) is used, which is a conditional particle. It sets the stage for a covenantal agreement, reflecting the biblical theme of conditional promises. The Israelites are reminded that their actions have consequences, and their faithfulness to God's commands is crucial for receiving His blessings.

Moses replied
Moses, the central figure in the Pentateuch, acts as a mediator between God and the Israelites. His role as a leader and prophet is underscored here. Historically, Moses is seen as a type of Christ, a deliverer and lawgiver. His response is authoritative, reflecting his responsibility to guide the people according to God's will. The Hebrew root "ענה" (anah) for "replied" suggests a thoughtful and deliberate response, indicating Moses' careful consideration of God's commands.

if you arm yourselves
The phrase calls the Israelites to prepare for battle, both physically and spiritually. The Hebrew word "חמש" (chamash) implies readiness and preparation. This preparation is not just about physical weapons but also about spiritual readiness to fulfill God's purposes. The call to arm themselves signifies a proactive stance in faith, trusting in God's provision and protection as they enter the Promised Land.

before the LORD
This phrase highlights the presence and authority of God in the Israelites' endeavors. The Hebrew "לפני יהוה" (lifnei Yahweh) indicates acting in the sight of God, emphasizing accountability and divine oversight. It reminds the Israelites that their actions are not merely human efforts but are conducted under God's watchful eye. This phrase underscores the biblical principle that all actions should be done for God's glory and in His presence.

for battle
The term "battle" in Hebrew is "מלחמה" (milchamah), which encompasses not only physical warfare but also spiritual struggles. The Israelites are called to engage in a holy war, a concept that involves fighting for God's promises and purposes. Historically, this reflects the conquest of Canaan, where the Israelites were to claim the land God had promised to their ancestors. Spiritually, it symbolizes the Christian's battle against sin and the forces of evil, relying on God's strength and guidance.

(20) if ye will go armed before the Lord . . . --The same verb and the same preposition are here used which are used in Numbers 32:17. It may be inferred from this expression that the army of the Israelites was regarded as the army of the Lord; and it seems probable that there is a reference to the ark of the Lord as being carried on certain occasions into the war. If the order of march prescribed in the second chapter of this Book was still observed, there may be a reference to the fact that the tribes of Reuben and Gad, which encamped on the south side of the Tabernacle, immediately preceded the ark (see Numbers 10:18-22), just as those of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh immediately followed it (Psalm 80:2). At the time of the passage of the Jordan, the priests who bare the ark stood still in the river until the whole of the people had passed over "before the ark of the Lord" (Joshua 4:5; Joshua 4:11); but at the siege of Jericho it appears that the ark was carried in the midst of the host, some of the armed men going before it, and some following after it (Joshua 6:9). If this is the true meaning of the word "before the Lord," it was natural that the Reubenites, or their spokesman, should first use the words "before the children of Israel" in Numbers 32:17, and should not adopt the expression "before the Lord," as in Numbers 32:32, until it had been previously employed by Moses. . . . Verse 20. - Before the Lord. Perhaps in a quasi-local sense, as the vanguard of the host before the sacred symbols of the Lord's presence (see on chapter Numbers 10:21, and Joshua 6:9). But since the same expression (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה) is twice used in a much vaguer sense in verse 22, it is more probable that it only means "in the Lord's service, or "beneath his eye."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“If
אִֽם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do
תַּעֲשׂ֖וּן (ta·‘ă·śūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this,”
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

replied,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you will arm yourselves
תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ (tê·ḥā·lə·ṣū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2502: To pull off, to strip, to depart, to deliver, equip, present, strengthen

before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

for battle,
לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (lam·mil·ḥā·māh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


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OT Law: Numbers 32:20 Moses said to them If you will (Nu Num.)
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