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 completion of the conquest will be gradual, and that Israel will have to go to battle many times befor... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIEST. — There is no mention of the Levite here. The priest is named as a distinct personage. The words which the priest are to pronounce are, as it were, the blessing of Jehovah on the campaign. It follows that Israel could not lawfully go to war except when the blessing of Jehovah might be in... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT YOUR HEARTS FAINT, FEAR NOT. — In these words Isaiah strengthened Ahaz (Deuteronomy 7:4): “fear not, neither be faint-hearted.” TREMBLE. — As in the Margin, _“_make haste.” (Comp. 2 Samuel 4:4, and 2 Kings 7:15.) BE YE TERRIFIED. — A strong word. The idea is, “do not even be unnerved, much... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS HE THAT GOETH WITH YOU. — “They come in the might of flesh and blood; but ye come in the might of the Eternal” (Rashi). So David to Goliath: “Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE OFFICERS. — The _shôterim_ of Deuteronomy 16:18; the civil magistrates apparently. The organisation of Israel was not military, but military leaders were to be appointed for special services, as appears by Deuteronomy 20:9, “they shall make captains of the armies.” The captains of thousands,... [ Continue Reading ]
CAPTAINS OF THE ARMIES — i.e., special leaders for the campaigns, whose command would probably cease when it was over. We may suppose from mention of the “thousands” in the army — “the captain of their thousand” (1 Samuel 17:18) — that the military divisions corresponded with the civil organization... [ Continue Reading ]
Deuteronomy 20:10. SIEGES. (10) WHEN THOU COMEST NIGH... PROCLAIM PEACE. — Not as the children of Dan did, who massacred the inhabitants of Laish without warning (Judges 18:27). Even in the wars of Joshua, the cities that “stood still in their strength” were generally spared (Joshua 11:13). (15) T... [ Continue Reading ]