DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 20 The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to fight their enemies, DEUTERONOMY 20:1. The officers proclamation who are to be dismissed from the war, DEUTERONOMY 20:5. A proclamation of peace to be made to besieged cities, DEUTERONOMY 20:10, and to deal with them as they... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIEST; an eminent priest appointed for this work, and to blow with the holy trumpets, NUMBERS 10:9, NUMBERS 31:6. SPEAK UNTO THE PEOPLE; either successively to one regiment of the army after another, or to some by himself, to others by his brethren or deputies, which accompanied him for that en... [ Continue Reading ]
FAINT, Heb. _be soft or tender_. Softness or tenderness of heart towards God is commended, 2 KINGS 22:19, but towards enemies it is condemned, here and DEUTERONOMY 20:8 LEVITICUS 26:36 2 CHRONICLES 13:7 ISAIAH 7:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
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Houses were _dedicated_ by feasting and thanksgiving to God. See PSALMS 30:1 NEHEMIAH 12:27. Heb. _hath initiated it_, i. e. entered upon it, taken possession of it, dwelt in it. LET HIM RETURN TO HIS HOUSE, lest his heart be set upon it, and thereby he be negligent or timorous in the battle, to the... [ Continue Reading ]
This and the former dispensation were generally convenient, but more necessary in the beginning of their settlement in Canaan, for the encouragement of those who should build houses or plant vineyards, which was chargeable to them, and beneficial to the commonwealth. EATEN OF IT, Heb. _made it commo... [ Continue Reading ]
Betrothing was done by a solemn and mutual promise, but not by an actual contract. See GENESIS 19:14 DEUTERONOMY 22:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
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Or rather, as the Hebrew hath it, _they shall set or place the captains of the armies in the head or front of the people_ under their charge, that they may conduct and manage them, and by their example encourage their soldiers. But it is not likely they had their captains to make or choose when they... [ Continue Reading ]
This seems to be understood not of the cities of the Canaanites, as is manifest from DEUTERONOMY 20:16, who were under an absolute sentence of utter destruction, EXODUS 23:32,33 DEU 7:1,2; whence they are blamed that made any league or peace with them, JUDGES 2:2; but of the cities either of other n... [ Continue Reading ]
By their purses, and by their labours too, as appears from 1 KINGS 9:15 2 CHRONICLES 8:7,8... [ Continue Reading ]
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A just punishment of their obstinate refusal of peace offered.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LITTLE ONES, excused by their sex or age, as not involved in the guilt, nor being likely to revenge their quarrel.... [ Continue Reading ]
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Heb. _no seed_, i.e. no man, as that word is oft used. Compare JOSHUA 10:40, with DEUTERONOMY 11:14. For the beasts, some few excepted as being under a special curse, were given them for a prey.... [ Continue Reading ]
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THE TREES THEREOF, to wit, the fruit trees, as appears from the following words; which is to be understood of a general destruction of them, not of the cutting down of some few of them, as the conveniency of the siege might require. MAN'S LIFE, i.e. the sustenance or support of his life, as _life_ i... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]