Deuteronomy 20:1-9

1 "If you go out to war against your enemies and you see a horse and a chariot, {an army} larger that you, you shall not be afraid because of them; for Yahweh your God [is] with you, the one who brought you from the land of Egypt.

2 {And then} when you approach the battle, then the priest shall come near and speak to the troops.

3 And he shall say to them, 'Hear, Israel, you are near {today} to the battle against your enemies; {do not lose heart}; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not panic, and you shall not be terrified {because of them},

4 for Yahweh your God [is] going with you to fight for you against your enemies to help you.'

5 And the officials shall speak to the troops, {saying}, 'Who [is] the man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to this house, so that he does not die in battle and {another man} dedicates it.

6 And who [is] the man that has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed it? Let him go and let him return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and {another man} enjoys it.

7 And who [is] the man who got engaged to a woman and [has] not married her? Let him go and let him return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and {another man} marries her.'

8 And the officials shall continue to speak to the troops, and they shall say, '{What man} is afraid {and disheartened}? Let him go, and let him return to his house, and let him not cause the heart of his brothers to melt like his.'

9 And {when the officials have finished speaking} to the army troops, then they shall appoint commanders of divisions at the head of the troops.

Deuteronomy 20:1-9 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "a people"
• [b]. Literally "And it will happen"
• [c]. Literally "the day"
• [d]. Literally "do not be faint/tender-hearted"
• [e]. Literally "from their faces"
• [f]. Literally "to say"
• [g]. Literally "a man other"
• [h]. Literally "a man other"
• [i]. Literally "a man other"
• [j]. Literally "Who is the man"
• [k]. Literally "and soft/weak of the heart"
• [l]. The verb has a causal meaning here
• [m]. Literally "it will happen as to finish the officials to speak"