Deuteronomy 20:2

_AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN YE ARE COME NIGH UNTO THE BATTLE, THAT THE PRIEST SHALL APPROACH AND SPEAK UNTO THE PEOPLE,_ The priest shall approach and speak unto the people. Jewish writers say that there was a war-priest appointed by a special ceremonial to attend the army. It was natural that the solemn objects and motives of religion should have been applied to animate patriotism, and give additional impulse to valour; other people have done this, but in the case of Israel the regular attendance of a priest on the battlefield was in accordance with their Theocratic government, in which everything was done directly by God through his delegated ministers. It was the province of this priest to sound the trumpets (Numbers 10:9; Numbers 31:6), and he had others under him who repeated at the head of e

2_And it shall be, when ye are come nigh. _God commits the duty of exhortation to the priests, when the time of the conflict shall have arrived. But we gather from the expressions used that this passage is supplementary to the First Commandment, for it contains no more than that the priest should encourage the Israelites to confidence, the ground of which is declared to be the help of God in preserving and constantly protecting the Church, which He has once redeemed. Moreover, He forbids their fears not in one word only, but heaps many together, “let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified.” By this we are reminded how difficult it is to cure that evil — fear, which in so many different ways assails and disturbs our minds, that they should not rest in God. And surely we all experience that we are troubled by such various besetments, that we have need...

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 Christian's warfare. Those unwilling to fight, must be sent away. The unwillingness might arise from a man's outward condition. God would not be served by men forced against their will. Thy people shall be willing, Psalms 110:3. In running the Christian race, and fighting the good fight of faith, we must lay aside all that would make us unwilling. If a man's unwillingness rose from weakness and fear, he had leave to return from the war. The reason here given is, lest his brethren's heart fail as well as his heart. We must take heed that we fear not with the fear of them that are afraid, Isaiah 8:12....

Verse Deuteronomy 20:2. _THE PRIEST SHALL APPROACH, AND SPEAK UNTO THE PEOPLE_] The priest on these occasions was the representative of that God whose servant he was, and whose worship he conducted. It is remarkable that almost all ancient nations took their priests with them to battle, as they did not expect success without having the object of their adoration with them, and they supposed they secured his presence by having that of his representative....

THE PRIEST - Not the high priest, but one appointed for the purpose, and called, according to the rabbis, “the anointed of the war”: hence, perhaps the expression of Jeremiah 6:4, etc. “prepare ye” (literally consecrate) “war.” Thus, Phinehas went with the warriors to fight against Midian (Numbers 31:6; compare 1Sa 4:4, 1 Samuel 4:11; 2 Chronicles 13:12)....

EXPOSITION DIRECTIONS CONCERNING WARFARE IN GENERAL, AND FOR THE BESIEGING OF CITIES IN PARTICULAR. DEUTERONOMY 20:1 The instructions in this chapter are peculiar to Deuteronomy. As the people of God, Israel was not a warlike nation; they were rather to abstain from warfare, and as a general rule to cultivate the arts of peace. But they had before them at this time the prospect of a serious and protracted conflict before they could occupy the land which God had assigned to them; and they might in future years have to go to war to maintain their independence and repel aggression. In view of this, instructions are here given

Ver. 2 AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN YE ARE COME NIGH UNTO THE BATTLE,.... When all things are preparing for it, and it seems unavoidable: THAT THE PRIEST SHALL APPROACH AND SPEAK UNTO THE PEOPLE; not any priest, but one appointed for this service; who is called THE ANOINTED OF WAR, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, and concerning whom Maimonides d is more particular; he says, "they appoint a priest to speak to the people at the time of war, and they anoint him with the anointing oil, and he is called the anointed of war; twice the anointed of war speaks unto the people, once in a book at the time they go forth, before they set in battle array, he says to the people, "what man is there", c. and when he has caused his words to be heard, he returns at another time, when they are set in array, he says, "fear not", c.'' this man seems to be an emblem of Gospel ministers, who are anointed with the...

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 Deuteronomy 19:14 ff.). The general effect of these laws is to soften the barbarities of war, though in some respects (Deuteronomy 20:13) they perpetuate its grossest cruelties. What were the wars which suggested these regulations?...

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 the campaign a priest shall exhort the people (Deuteronomy 20:2-4). Officers shall discharge every man who has built a house and not dedicated it (Deuteronomy 20:5), or planted a vineyard but not completed the rites opening its fruits to common use (Deuteronomy 20:6), or betrothed a wife but not taken her (Deuteronomy 20:7);

_VER._ 2. _THE PRIEST SHALL APPROACH, AND SPEAK UNTO THE PEOPLE_— The Jews say there was a priest anointed for this purpose: his office was, to blow with the trumpets (Numbers 31:6.) when they were preparing for battle, and to exhort them, in the most persuasive manner, to a courageous and undaunted performance of their duty; to look upon their cause as God's own, and assure themselves of success under his divine aid and protection. See Selden de Success. in Pontif. lib. 2: cap. 1. The Romans, and the ancient Germans, had priests also with their armies for this purpose. See Valer. Max. lib. 1: cap. 2 sect. 2 and Tacit. de Mor. Germ. cap. 7: sect. 2. This was also the custom of many other pagan nations, as may be seen in Wagenseil's Addenda to his Sota, p. 1222....