Deuteronomy 20:1-7

Laws of Warfare

1 "When you go out to battle against your enemies and see ¹horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, ²do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.

2 "When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people.

3 "He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted *. ³Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before * them,

4 for the LORD your God ⁴is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'

5 "The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, 'Who is the man that has built a new house and has not ⁵dedicated it? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it.

6 'Who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would begin to use its fruit.

7 '⁶And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry her.'

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Deuteronomy 20:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 20

In this chapter rules are given to be observed in times of war. When a battle was near, a priest was to address the soldiers, and encourage them to fight, De 20:1-4, then the officers were to declare who might return home, De 20:5-9 when an enemy's city was approached, peace was to be proclaimed on certain conditions, which, if accepted of, the inhabitants were to be tributaries and servants, but if not, when taken, all were to be put to the sword, excepting women, children, and cattle, De 20:10-15, but those of the seven nations were to be utterly destroyed, De 20:16-18, and, during a siege, no trees bearing fruit fit for food were to be cut down, De 20:19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

1. Deuteronomy 3:22; Deuteronomy 7:18; Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Psalms 20:7; Isaiah 31:1
2. 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8; Psalms 23:4; Isaiah 41:10
3. Deuteronomy 20:1; Joshua 23:10
4. Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 3:22; Joshua 23:10
5. Nehemiah 12:27
6. Deuteronomy 24:5

Footnotes 4

[a]. Lit "treat(ed) it as common"
[b]. Lit "treat(ed) it as common"
[c]. Lit "taken"
[d]. Lit "take"