Bible Strands
Numbers 32:27
But your servants are equipped for war, and every man will cross over to the battle before the LORD, just as our lord says.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Reubenites and Gadites address Moses as "our lord" to confirm their commitment to cross the Jordan armed. They speak at the moment of finalizing their conditional agreement to leave their families and livestock in Gilead.
The words — The Hebrew יַֽעַבְר֜וּ (ya'avru) means "they will pass over," paired with כָּל־ חֲל֥וּץ צָבָ֛א (kol-chalutz tsva') for "every man equipped for war." These terms emphasize a complete military mobilization rather than a partial or reluctant departure.
The thread — This crossing before the LORD is fulfilled in Joshua 4:12, where the same tribes advance armed ahead of the Israelites. The phrasing directly fulfills the conditional commands Moses issued in Numbers 32:20–22 regarding their inheritance.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader verify that spoken commitments are matched by organized action. It requires acknowledging that obedience to a divine mandate involves concrete preparation and disciplined execution.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the Lord to battle, as my lord saith.
Cross-references
- Joshua 4:12 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over before the Israelites, armed for battle as Moses had instructed them.
- Numbers 11:28 Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
- Numbers 12:11 and said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed.
- Numbers 32:17 But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our little ones will remain in the fortified cities for protection from the inhabitants of the land.
- Numbers 36:2 saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.