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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Deuteronomy 20:1-20

DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON Deuteronomy 20:1 These laws on warfare (especially vv. Deuteronomy 20:16) may seem to be at odds with the teachings of the NT. But three things should be kept in mind: (1) they applied specifically to securing the Promised Land; (2) the Israelite armies were to offer terms of peace before attacking a city (see v. Deuteronomy 20:10); (3) assuming the rightfulness of Israel’s cause, these laws actually helped to limit the loss of life in warfare. See notes on 7:1–2; 18:12.

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See also Deuteronomy 20:1-20 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XX _Directions concerning campaigns_, 1. _The priest shall encourage the people with the assurance that_ _God will accompany and fight for them_, 2-4. _The officers shalt dismiss from the...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HORSES, AND CHARIOTS - The most formidable elements of an Oriental host, which the Canaanites possessed in great numbers; compare Joshua 17:16; Jdg 4:3; 1 Samuel 13:5. Israel could not match these wit...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DEUTERONOMY 20. LAWS TO BE OBSERVED DURING WAR. Peculiar to cf. Deuteronomy 21:10 (which some attach immediately to ch. 20) and Deuteronomy 23:9; Deuteronomy 24:5 (see remarks prefixed to...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ENEMIES. Hebrew text has singular, but some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Syriac, and Vulgate, read the plural, as Authorized Version. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. GO...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _When thou goest forth to_ WAR, etc.] So Deuteronomy 21:10, cp. Deuteronomy 23:9 (10). On _go forth_see Deuteronomy 13:13 (14). _Enemies_, so Sam. LXX; Heb. _enemy_(but collective)....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Of War and Exemptions from Service in it When Israel goes to war with a foe more numerous and having horses and chariots they shall not fear; Jehovah is with them (Deuteronomy 20:1). On the eve of th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 1. _AND CHARIOTS_— See Judges 4:3. These chariots were of iron, and sometimes armed with scythes, which rendered them very formidable....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    LESSON SIXTEEN DEUTERONOMY 20:1-20; DEUTERONOMY 21:10-14; DEUTERONOMY 23:9-14 g. RULES FOR CONDUCTING THE HOLY WAR ...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _WHEN THOU GOEST OUT TO BATTLE AGAINST THINE ENEMIES, AND SEEST HORSES, AND CHARIOTS, AND A PEOPLE MORE THAN THOU, BE NOT AFRAID OF THEM: FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS WITH THEE, WHICH BROUGHT THEE UP OUT O...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    LAWS OF WARFARE 1. Horses and chariots] The army of the Israelites was chiefly composed of infantry: see on Deuteronomy 17:16....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DEUTERONOMY: GOD’S LAW OF LOVE LOVE AND OBEY THE *LORD YOUR GOD DEUTERONOMY _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 20 V1 ‘Do not be afraid when you go to fight against your enemies. You may see horses and carts...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XX. LAWS OF WARFARE. (1) WHEN THOU GOEST OUT TO BATTLE — i.e., generally; not only in the immediate conquest of Canaan. Yet it may be observed that in the writings of Moses it is foreseen that the co...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כִּֽי ־תֵצֵ֨א לַ † מִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל ־אֹיְבֶ֗יךָ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

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  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    It is necessary to bear in mind that these people were being led into the land not merely to find a possession for themselves as an established nation, but first as the scourge of God against a corrup...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    When (a) thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee, which brought thee u...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Egypt. Hence it appears that the doctrine of the Quakers, who condemn all wars, is contrary to that of God. If they were always essentially unlawful, He would never have authorized them. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This chapter relates to the military government of Israel among those who were more immediately appointed to fight the LORD'S battles. Here are directions for their conduct, inspiring them wi...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It is clear that a new division of the statutes and judgments of this book begins with the later verses just read from Deuteronomy 16:1-22. What belonged to the religious life of Israel was closed wit...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1_When thou goest out to battle. _This law also, which concerns their political government, is a Supplement to the First Commandment, enacting that they should carry on their wars under the auspices o...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

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  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 c distinguishes; one was by the...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee, which brought thee up ou...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies_ The land of Canaan being to be gained by conquest, in a war of God's special appointment; and the Israelites, after their settlement in it, being...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The Priests exhortation to encourage the people to battell. 5 The officers proclamation who are to be dismissed from the warre. 10 How to vse the Cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of p...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, an equipment which Israel did not possess at that time, and which always made the impression of superior power on th...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE SELECTION OF SOLDIERS FOR A CAMPAIGN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    WARFARE REGULATED BY GOD (vs.1-19) God certainly never did approve the saying, "All's fair in love and war." Rather, God gave explicit instructions to Israel as to how to conduct their warfare. But...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 In the wars wherein Israel engaged according to the will of God, they might expect the Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their only confidence. In these respects they were types of the Christ...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    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 pr...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Deuteronomy 20:1 out H3318 (H8799) battle H4421 enemies H341 (H8802) see H7200 (H8804) horses H5483 chariots...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PREPARATION FOR BATTLE (DEUTERONOMY 20:1). Israel was on the verge of a holy war, and instructions as to how to face up to such a fact were very necessary. They were not a warlike people, or a trained...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Laws of warfare. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: Those enterprises which we undertake by a divine warrant and prosecute by divine direction, we may expect to succeed in. Those have no...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Deuteronomy 20:5. _Hath not dedicated it._ David composed the xxxth Psalm for the dedication of his new palace. Good men warmed a new house by devotion. Deuteronomy 20:9. _The officers shall make capt...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _When thou goest out to battle._ RIGHTEOUS WAR I. Undertaken to accomplish the purpose of God. “In the name of our God we will set up our banners.” II. Sanctioned by the will of God. 1. God’s will...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.—Reverence for life, and that which tends to preserve it, was the motive for laws given in last chapter. The same is the basis of those in this chapter. Even in time of war, forbearance...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION DIRECTIONS CONCERNING WARFARE IN GENERAL, AND FOR THE BESIEGING OF CITIES IN PARTICULAR. DEUTERONOMY 20:1 The instructi

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when they went to war, [chapter twenty] against your enemies, and you see the horses, and chariots, don't be afraid: for the LORD is with you, who brought you out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 20:1). Now...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Chronicles 14:11; 2 Chronicles 20:12; 2 Chronicles 32:7; 2 Chronicles 32:8;...

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