Deuteronomy 20:3

_AND SHALL SAY UNTO THEM, HEAR, O ISRAEL, YE APPROACH THIS DAY UNTO BATTLE AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES: LET NOT YOUR HEARTS FAINT, FEAR NOT, AND DO NOT TREMBLE, NEITHER BE YE TERRIFIED BECAUSE OF THEM;_ No JFB commentary on this verse....

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....

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

AND SHALL SAY UNTO THEM, HEAR, O ISRAEL,.... Exciting their attention to what he was about to say, and which, as Jarchi observes, was spoken in the holy tongue, or in the Hebrew language: YOU APPROACH THIS DAY UNTO BATTLE AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES; were marching or ready to march, preparing to engage with them, and a battle seemed near at hand: LET NOT YOUR HEARTS FAINT, FEAR NOT, AND DO NOT TREMBLE, NEITHER BE YE TERRIFIED BECAUSE OF THEM; many words are made use of to animate them against those fears which the strength, number, and appearance of their enemies, would be apt to cause in them. Jarchi observes, that here are four exhortations, answerable to four things which the kings of the nations do (in order to inject terror into their enemies); they shake their shields, to clash them one against another, that hearing their noise they may be afraid of them and flee; they prance their hors...

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?...

FAINT. This and the following three words. Figure of speech _Synonymia._ App-6. tremble. be excited. (Hebrew. make haste.)...

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);

LESSON SIXTEEN DEUTERONOMY 20:1-20; DEUTERONOMY 21:10-14; DEUTERONOMY 23:9-14 g. RULES FOR CONDUCTING THE HOLY WAR (Deuteronomy 20:1-20; Deuteronomy 21:10-14; Deuteronomy 23:9-14) (1) ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PRIEST (Deuteronomy 20:1-4) When thou goest forth to b

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

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 that men use in war. You may see an army that is bigger than your army. The *LORD your God, who rescued you from Egypt, is with you. V2 Just before you go into battle, a priest will speak to the army. V3 He will say this. “*Israelite men, listen. Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not lose courage. Do not be afraid. Do not tremble. Do not feel terror because of your enemies. V4 The *LORD your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and you will win.”...