Charles Ellicott Commentary Deuteronomy 20
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Deuteronomy 20
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Deuteronomy 20
"When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." — Deuteronomy 20:1 (ASV)
When you go out to battle—that is, generally; not only in the immediate conquest of Canaan. Yet it may be observed that in the writings of Moses it is foreseen that the completion of the conquest will be gradual, and that Israel will have to go to battle many times before all enemies are overcome.
Horses and chariots.—The Israelite army was chiefly, or rather entirely, composed of infantry, in most of the great victories won by them.
"And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people," — Deuteronomy 20:2 (ASV)
The priest. —There is no mention of the Levite here. The priest is named as a distinct personage. The words which the priest is to pronounce are, as it were, the blessing of Jehovah on the campaign. It follows that Israel could not lawfully go to war except when the blessing of Jehovah might be invoked.
"and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them;" — Deuteronomy 20:3 (ASV)
Let not your hearts faint, fear not. —In these words Isaiah strengthened Ahaz (Deuteronomy 7:4): fear not, neither be faint-hearted.
Tremble. —As in the Margin, “ make haste.” (Compare to 2 Samuel 4:4, and 2 Kings 7:15).
Be ye terrified. —A strong word. The idea is, “do not even be unnerved, much less alarmed, at the sight of them.”
"for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." — Deuteronomy 20:4 (ASV)
For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you. —“They come in the might of flesh and blood; but you come in the might of the Eternal” (Rashi). So David to Goliath: Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied (1 Samuel 17:45). And so the Psalmist: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God (Psalms 20:7).
"And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren`s heart melt as his heart." — Deuteronomy 20:5-8 (ASV)
And the officers. —The shôterim of Deuteronomy 16:18; the civil magistrates apparently. The organization of Israel was not military, but military leaders were to be appointed for special services, as shown in Deuteronomy 20:9, they shall make captains of the armies. The captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens were called shôterim (Deuteronomy 1:15).
What man is there ... —These questions show that, primarily, all Israelites of military age (20 to 50) were expected to attend the muster; then those who were unprepared for the campaign were allowed to depart. The only recorded instance of the observance of these rules is in Judges 7:3, at the muster of Gideon’s army. The proclamation Whosoever, is afraid let him depart, sent away 22,000 out of 32,000 on that occasion, or rather more than two-thirds of the army!
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