The Meaning of Numbers 32:20 Explained

Numbers 32:20

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

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

Darby: And Moses said to them, If ye do this thing, if ye arm yourselves before Jehovah for war,

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Numbers 32:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 32:20-42 - Warning Against Forsaking Their Brethren
These two and a half tribes never entered the national life, as did those on the other side of Jordan. They were far from the center of religious life, first at Shiloh and then at Jerusalem. On them first the tide of invasion broke, sweeping them and their cattle into captivity.
In Deborah's great song Reuben is rebuked for sitting "among the sheepfolds to hear the pipings for the flocks," instead of coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty. The Brahmins say that the holy man dies to every other sin earlier and easier than to the love of money. Their cattle kept these tribes on the wrong side of the river of separation! Let us beware of the cares of this world, if we are poor, and of the deceitfulness of riches, if we are rich. Better lose all than the soul. See Matthew 16:26. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Numbers 32:20 mean?

And said to them Moses if you do - thing this if you arm yourselves before Yahweh for the war
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה אִֽם־ תַּעֲשׂ֖וּן אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה אִם־ תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲלֵיהֶם֙  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
תַּעֲשׂ֖וּן  you  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדָּבָ֣ר  thing 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ  you  arm  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: חָלַץ 
Sense: to remove, draw out, draw off, take off, withdraw, equip (for war), arm for war, rescue, be rescued.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַמִּלְחָמָֽה  for  the  war 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 32:20?

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