Deuteronomy 20:1

1 `When thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot -- a people more numerous than thou -- thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God [is] with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt;

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 thou goest out to battle against thine enemy, and hast seen horse and chariot -- a people more numerous than thou -- thou art not afraid of them, for Jehovah thy God [is] with thee, who is bringing thee up out of the land of Egypt;

2 and it hath been, in your drawing near unto the battle, that the priest hath come nigh, and spoken unto the people,

3 and said unto them, Hear, Israel, ye are drawing near to-day to battle against your enemies, let not your hearts be tender, fear not, nor make haste, nor be terrified at their presence,

4 for Jehovah your God [is] He who is going with you, to fight for you with your enemies -- to save you.

5 `And the authorities have spoken unto the people, saying, Who [is] the man that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? -- let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man dedicate it.