Deuteronomy 20:2

2 And it shall come to pass whenever thou shalt draw nigh to battle, that the priest shall draw nigh and speak to the people, and shall say to them,

Deuteronomy 20:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle
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 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 war; twice the anointed of war speaks unto the people, once in a book at the time they go forth, before they set in battle array, he says to the people, "what man is there" and when he has caused his words to be heard, he returns; at another time, when they are set in array, he says, "fear not"''

this man seems to be an emblem of Gospel ministers, who are anointed with the gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, and whose business it is to encourage the people of God to fight the Lord's battles against sin, Satan, and the world, and not to be afraid of their spiritual enemies; directing them to take to them the whole armour of God, and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, to follow him the captain of their salvation, assuring them of victory through him who makes them more than conquerors, and that their warfare is or shortly will be accomplished.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1, 2.

Deuteronomy 20:2 In-Context

1 And if thou shouldest go forth to war against thine enemies, and shouldest see horse, and rider, and a people more numerous than thyself; thou shalt not be afraid of them, for the Lord thy God with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

2 And it shall come to pass whenever thou shalt draw nigh to battle, that the priest shall draw nigh and speak to the people, and shall say to them,

3 Hear, O Israel; ye are going this day to battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint, fear not, neither be confounded, neither turn aside from their face.

4 For the Lord your God who advances with you, to fight with you against your enemies, to save you.

5 And the scribes shall speak to the people, saying, What man he that has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the war, and another man dedicate it.