Deuteronomy 20:1-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:1-9

Israel was at this time to be considered rather as a camp than as a kingdom, entering upon an enemy's country, and not yet settled in a country of their own; and, besides the war they were now entering upon in order to their settlement, even after their settlement they could neither protect nor enlarge their coast without hearing the alarms of war. It was therefore needful that they should have directions given them in their military affairs; and in these verses they are directed in managing,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:1

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies ,.... There were two sorts of war the Israelites were engaged in, one commanded and another permitted, as Maimonides F3 Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1. distinguishes; one was by the order and appointment of God, as against the seven nations of Canaan; the other was voluntary and arbitrary, which was left to their own discretion and will, as they saw fit, when they were provoked or distressed, or were invaded by their enemies, or they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:2

When all things are preparing for it, and it seems unavoidable: that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people ; not any priest, but one appointed for this service; who is called the anointed of war , as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, and concerning whom Maimonides F4 Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1,2. is more particular; he says,"they appoint a priest to speak to the people at the time of war, and they anoint him with the anointing oil, and he is called the anointed of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:3

And shall say unto them, hear, O Israel ,.... Exciting their attention to what he was about to say, and which, as Jarchi observes, was spoken in the holy tongue, or in the Hebrew language: you approach this day unto battle against your enemies ; were marching or ready to march, preparing to engage with them, and a battle seemed near at hand: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them ; many words are made use of to animate them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:4

For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you ,.... To battle, and therefore they had no reason to fear and be dismayed, to be fainthearted, terrified, and tremble: fear not, I am with thee ,.... Isaiah 41:10 , this, according to the Misnah F6 Ut supra. (Misn. Sotab, c. 8. sect. 1.) , respects the ark, and so Jarchi, which was a symbol of the divine Presence, and went with them to battle; see Joshua 6:4 . to fight for you against your enemies, to save you ; to annoy and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:5

And the officers shall speak unto the people ,.... What these officers were is not easy to say; they seem not to be officers of the army, for they are distinguished from captains of the armies, Deuteronomy 20:9 , unless they can be thought to be general officers; but the word for them is the same that is used of such that attended the judges and were ministers to them, Deuteronomy 16:18 , and perhaps they were a sort of heralds that published and proclaimed what the anointed of war had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:6

And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it ?.... Which he has a right to do, and it is hard for him to be deprived of it, 1 Corinthians 9:7 or "hath not made it common" F11 לא חללו "necdum fecit eam esse communem", V. L. "et non fecit eam communem", Vatablus, Fagius. ; according to the law in Leviticus 19:23 . Three years the fruit of trees, and so of vines, might not be eaten; in the fourth, they were devoted to the Lord, and might be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:7

And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her ?.... Home to his house and bedded with her; has only betrothed her, but is not properly married to her, the nuptials are not completed; this the Jews understand of anyone betrothed to him, whether a virgin or a widow, or the wife of a deceased brother (yea, they say, if his brother is dead in war, he returns and comes home), but not of a former wife divorced and received again F13 Misn. Sotah, ib. sect. 2. : ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 20:8

And the officers shall speak further unto the people ,.... According to Maimonides F14 Ut supra. (Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 3.) , the priest the anointed of war spoke to the end of Deuteronomy 20:7 and which the officers repeated after him to the people aloud, as before observed; and then after that an officer speaks of himself, or in his own words, and not in those of the priest, as follows: what man that is fearful , &c.; and then another officer causes all the people... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 20:1

When thou goest out to battle - This refers chiefly to the battles they were to have with the Canaanites, in order to get possession of the promised land; for it cannot be considered to apply to any wars which they might have with the surrounding nations for political reasons, as the Divine assistance could not be expected in wars which were not undertaken by the Divine command. read more

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