Deuteronomy 23:9

_WHEN THE HOST GOETH FORTH AGAINST THINE ENEMIES, THEN KEEP THEE FROM EVERY WICKED THING._ When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing - from theft, violence, licentiousness, and all the excesses incident to life in a camp (Luke 3:14). Cleanliness being indispensably necessary, the strictest sanitary regulations are always enforced by those who have charge of a large body of men-the first appearance of disease is watched, and precautions are taken to prevent the spread of infection. But in warm climates something more is required, and constant care must be taken in the removal of foul, putrescent, or fetid matter....

9._When the host goeth forth. _What he had taught with respect to the preservation of purity at home, and in time of peace, he now extends to times of war also, so that they might keep themselves clean from all defilement even in the midst of the clang of arms. We know how greatly laws are disregarded during war, when all things are under the control of violence rather than reason; and we know that much license is wont to be given to soldiers, which would be by no means tolerated in peace. God would remedy this evil by requiring the Israelites to aim at the same purity in war as in peace; for this is a special law which forbids their being dissolute and unruly in war-time, as He has before condemned all impurity in general, as if He had said, that under no pretext would they be excusable, if they neglect the duty of cultivating habits of purity. For He does not command them to be cautiou...

9-14 The camp of the Lord must have nothing offensive in it. If there must be this care taken to preserve the body clean, much more should we be careful to keep the mind pure....

The whole passage refers not to the encampments of the nation while passing from Egypt through the wilderness, but to future warlike expeditions seat out from Canaan....

EXPOSITION CIVIL RIGHTS. WHO MAY AND WHO MAY NOT ENTER INTO THE CONGREGATION. UNCLEANNESS IN THE CAMP TO BE AVOIDED. RECEPTION OF FUGITIVE SLAVES. LICENTIOUS PERSONS TO BE REMOVED, AND GIFTS THE PRICE OF IMPURITY TO BE REFUSED. LAWS REGARDING USURY, VOWS, AND

WHEN THE HOST GOETH FORTH AGAINST THINE ENEMIES,.... An army of soldiers march in order to meet the enemy and fight him: THEN KEEP THEE FROM EVERY WICKED THING; the Targum of Jonathan adds, by way of explanation, "from strange worship, uncovering of nakedness, and from shedding innocent blood;'' that is, from idolatry, uncleanness of every sort, and murder; and all other wickednesses ought to be abstained from at all times by all persons, but especially by soldiers in such a circumstance, just going to battle; since sin committed weakens natural courage, as it loads the conscience with guilt; and since victory and success, which depend upon the blessing of God on arms, cannot be reasonably expected, where vices of all sorts are indulged and abound; and especially seeing such are about to expose their lives to the utmost danger, and know not but that in a few hours they must exchange t...

19. THE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH AND ITS CONSTITUTION AND HOLINESS CHAPTER 23 _ 1. The constitution of the congregation of Jehovah (Deuteronomy 23:1)_ 2. The cleanness of the camp in time of war (Deuteronomy 23:9) 3. Concerning the escaped slave and the harlot (Deuteronomy 23:15) 4. Usury forbidden (Deuteronomy 23:19) 5. Concerning vows (Deuteronomy 23:21) 6. The neighbor's vineyard and field ...

ANOTHER SECTION DEALING WITH WAR (see Deuteronomy 20:1; Deuteronomy 21:10). Regulations for securing the ceremonial purity of the camp (see Numbers 5:2 (P)). The reason stated (Deuteronomy 23:14) is that Yahweh is in the camp (_cf. Deuteronomy 20:1_); Schwally and others suspect that the original motive is the belief that impurity attracted evil spirits. [J. G. Frazer (_Taboo and the Perils of the Soul_, pp. 158f.) points out that the rules of ceremonial purity, by which the Hebrew warriors were bound, are identica

WICKED. See App-44....

_VER._ 9. _WHEN THE HOST GOETH FORTH AGAINST THINE ENEMIES,_ &C.— As the Israelites were to commence a war against the Canaanites, the success of which depended immediately upon the miraculous assistance of God, Moses ordains, that, in so delicate and dangerous a conjuncture, they should be especially careful to avoid all that excess which is but too common in armies. The rule, however, is to be observed at all times. Grotius quotes from Agathias a sentence very like this: "Injustice, and neglect of God's service, are ever to be avoided as most pernicious, but especially in a time of war, and when men are about to give battle;" which the same historian proves by the examples of Darius, Xerxes, and the Athenians in Sicily. See Prolegom. ad Hist. de Jure B. & P....