Deuteronomy 20:2

2 And when ye are come nye vnto batayle, let the preast come forth and speake vnto the people

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 When thou goest out to batayle agenste thine enemyes, and seest horses and charettes and people moo then thou, be not aferde of them, for the Lorde thy God is with the whiche broughte the out of the londe off Egipte.

2 And when ye are come nye vnto batayle, let the preast come forth and speake vnto the people

3 and saye vnto them: Heare Israel, ye are come vnto batayle agenste youre enemyes, let not youre hartes faynte, nether feare nor be amased nor a dreade of them.

4 For the Lorde thy God goeth with you to fyghte for you agenste youre enemyes and to saue you.

5 And let the officers speake vnto the people sayenge: Yf any man haue bylt a new housse and haue not dedicate it, let him goo and returne to his housse lest he dye in the batayle, and another dedicate it.