Matthew Henry Commentary Deuteronomy 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Deuteronomy 20
Matthew Henry 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. And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 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; for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. 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. And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people." — Deuteronomy 20:1-9 (ASV)
In the wars in which Israel engaged according to the will of God, they could expect Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their only confidence. In these respects, they were types of the Christian's warfare.
Those unwilling to fight were to be sent away. This unwillingness might arise from a man's outward circumstances. God would not be served by men forced against their will.
Your people shall be willing (Psalms 110:3). In running the Christian race and fighting the good fight of faith, we must lay aside everything that would make us unwilling.
If a man's unwillingness arose from weakness and fear, he was permitted to return from the war. The reason given for this is so that his brothers' hearts would not fail as well as his own. We must take care that we do not fear with the fear of those who are afraid (Isaiah 8:12).
"When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee. And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:" — Deuteronomy 20:10-12 (ASV)
The Israelites are here instructed about the nations against whom they made war. Let this show God's grace in dealing with sinners. He proclaims peace and beseeches them to be reconciled. Let it also show us our duty in dealing with our brothers and sisters. Whoever is for war, we must be for peace. In the cities given to Israel, none of their inhabitants were to be left.
Since it could not be expected that these nations would be cured of their idolatry, they would harm Israel. These regulations are not the rules for our conduct, but Christ's law of love. The horrors of war must fill a sensitive heart with anguish with every recollection; they are proofs of human wickedness, the power of Satan, and the just vengeance of God, who in this way scourges a guilty world. But how dreadful is the condition of those who are engaged in an unequal conflict with their Maker, who will not submit to render to Him the easy tribute of worship and praise!
Certain ruin awaits them. Let neither the number nor the power of the enemies of our souls dismay us, nor let even our own weakness cause us to tremble or faint. The Lord will save us; but in this war, let no one engage whose heart is devoted to the world, or afraid of the cross and the conflict. Care is taken here that in besieging cities the fruit trees should not be destroyed.
God is a better friend to us than we are to ourselves; and God's law considers our interests and comforts, while our own appetites and passions, which we indulge, are enemies of our welfare. Many of the divine precepts restrain us from destroying what is for our life and food. The Jews understand this as forbidding all willful waste on any account whatsoever. Every creature of God is good; as nothing is to be refused, so nothing is to be abused.
We may live to find ourselves lacking what we carelessly waste.
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