1 The priest’s exhortation to encourage the people to battle. 5 The officers’ proclamation who are to be dismissed from the war. 10 How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace. 16 What cities must be devoted. 19 Trees of man’s meat must not be destroyed in the siege.
Deu 20:1 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.
Horses, and chariots.
The Canaanites had large numbers of chariots (Joshua 11:4; Judges 4:3). The army of Israel was composed of infantrymen; they never lost their fear of armed chariots (Joshua 17:16; Judges 1:19; 1 Sam. 13:5, 6).
Not until David’s time did, they have chariots of their own (2 Sam. 8:4). Be not afraid. God had brought them out of Egypt; He would be with them in the vicissitudes of battle that lay ahead (Ps. 20:6–8).
God will be with you.
For the same promise under other circumstances see chs. 1:30, 42; 7:21. Compare the message of Isaiah to Ahaz in his conflict with Rezin and Pekah (Isa. 7:4–14; 8:8, 10).
Deu 20:2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.
2. The priest shall come forward. See Num. 31:6; 2 Chron. 13:12. For the ark being taken to the field of battle, see 1 Sam. 4:4, 5 (cf. 2 Sam. 11:11), and a sacrifice being offered to God for victory in battle, see 1 Sam. 7:9; cf. 1 Sam. 13:9–13.
Deu 20:3 He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.
Fainthearted. Better, “be soft,” “be tender,” “be weak.” For other uses of the word translated “faint” see 2 Kings 22:19; Ps. 55:21; Isa. 1:6.
Deu 20:4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
The Lord your God. Compare the confidence of David (1 Sam. 17:45; Ps. 20:7). Sacrifices were often offered to God at the opening of a campaign to invoke His presence. In the last great struggle preliminary to the second coming of Christ, God is represented as being present in person to do battle (see Isa. 13:6–14; Joel 3:9–21; Rev. 16:14–16; 19:11–16).
Deu 20:5 The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it.
This exemption was an act of consideration so that the man might not die without having children to perpetuate his name and interests.
This exemption lasted one year (ch. 24:5). The three exemptions noted in vs. 5–7 could not fail to have a beneficial effect on the economy of the nation. They were an important alleviation of the insecurity and utterly disturbing effects of war upon the entire life of a people.
Deu 20:6 Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it.
Deu 20:7 Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”
Deu 20:6 Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it.
Deu 20:7 Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”
Deu 20:8 Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.”
Afraid or fainthearted. It was felt necessary to protect the army from the infectious spirit of cowardice. It is equally necessary to maintain a high level of courage in the Christian warfare. Victories are gained by discipline, courage, devotion to duty, and a spirit of self-sacrifice (Luke 14:26, 27; Gal. 6:9).
Deu 20:9 When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it.
Referring to officers in command of companies of thousands, hundreds, or fifties (see Num. 31:14, 48; 1 Sam. 8:12; 22:7; 2 Sam. 18:1).
Deu 20:10 When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.
Meaning terms of surrender. See offers of negotiation made by Ben-hadad of Syria to Ahab, king of Israel (1 Kings 20:1–6), and by the representative of the king of Assyria to Hezekiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 18:17–37).
Deu 20:11 If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you.
Deu 20:12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.
A rejection of the offer of peace was regarded as a declaration of war, and hostilities began.
Deu 20:13 When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. The rejection of the offer of peace was the expression of a determination to continue the worship of idols, with all its attendant immoralities. The moral rottenness and total depravity of the inhabitants of idolatrous cities made their destruction inevitable if they refused to accept God and turn their backs upon idolatry.
Deu 20:14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies.
Plunder. Precious metals, cloth, stocks of food, and all manner of household goods (see ch. 2:35).
Deu 20:16 However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.
Cities. Referring specifically to the cities of Canaan. No peace offer was to be made to them; God had previously given strict injunctions as to sparing any of them (Ex. 23:31–33; 34:11–16). Every precaution was taken to protect Israel from the degrading forms of idolatry practiced by the Canaanites. On the abominations of these people, see Lev. 18:24–28; 20:23.
Deu 20:17 Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you.
Commanded you the instructions recorded in Ex. 23:31–33.
Deu 20:18 Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God.
Detestable things. This points to the supreme reason for the severe measures taken. Great wickedness coupled with the rejection of mercy demanded judgment (see chs. 7:26; 12:31). When “the iniquity of the Amorites” was full, judgment came (see Gen. 15:16; 1 Kings 21:26).
Deu 20:19 When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?
The fruit trees would give refreshment and sustenance. They could not be grown in a day. The tree of the field. The word “life” is not in the Hebrew text.”
Deu 20:20 However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.
Siege works. The reference is to various of ramparts, trenches, etc., built to aid in the subjugation of a city.