Deuteronomy 20:1

1 "When you go out to fight your enemies and see horses, chariots and a force larger than yours, you are not to be afraid of them; because ADONAI your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.

Deuteronomy 20:1 Meaning and 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 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 saw reason to go out against them, and either act the offensive or defensive part, or both; and of each of these some things are said in this chapter:

and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou;
the Israelites had no horses, and so no chariots, their armies were all infantry; but their neighbouring nations that made war with them had a large cavalry, and multitudes of chariots, which made them very formidable; thus Shishak, king of Egypt, in the times of Rehoboam, came against Jerusalem with 1200 chariots and 60,000, horsemen, and people without number; and Zerah the Ethiopian, in the times of Asa, came against him with an host of 100,000 men, and three hundred chariots, ( 2 Chronicles 12:2 2 Chronicles 12:3 ) ( 14:9 )

be not afraid of them;
because of the strength of their cavalry, the terrible approaches of their chariots, and the number of their men:

for the Lord thy God is with thee;
hence, as Hezekiah says, more would be with them than with their enemies, with whom was an arm of flesh, but with them the Lord their God, ( 2 Chronicles 32:7 2 Chronicles 32:8 ) and so the Targum of Jonathan,

``for all of them shall be reckoned as one horse and one chariot before the Lord your God;''

with whom numbers are nothing; and which adds,

``for his Word shall be your help;''

the eternal Logos, or Word of God; so Onkelos; and if God and his Word, his only begotten Son, are on the side of his people, they have nothing to fear from enemies, though ever so many and mighty:

which brought thee out of the land of Egypt;
which is observed for the encouragement of their faith and confidence in him; for he that did that for them, what is it he cannot or will not do?

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1.

Deuteronomy 20:1 In-Context

1 "When you go out to fight your enemies and see horses, chariots and a force larger than yours, you are not to be afraid of them; because ADONAI your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.

2 When you are about to go into battle, the cohen is to come forward and address the people.

3 He should tell them, 'Listen, Isra'el! You are about to do battle against your enemies. Don't be fainthearted or afraid; don't be alarmed or frightened by them;

4 because ADONAI your God is going with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies and give you victory.'

5 "Then the officials will speak to the soldiers. They are to say, 'Is there a man here who has built a new house, but hasn't dedicated it yet? He should go back home now; otherwise he may die fighting, and another man will dedicate it.