John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Deuteronomy 20 In this chapter rules are given to be observed in times of war. When a battle was near, a priest was to address the soldiers, and encourage them to fight, Deuteronomy 20:1, then the officers were to declare who might return home, Deuteronomy 20:5 when an enemy's city was approached, peace was to be proclaimed on certain conditions, which, if accepted of, the...
John Gill
For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you,.... To battle, and therefore they had no reason to fear and be dismayed, to be fainthearted, terrified, and tremble: fear not, I am with thee,.... Isaiah 41:10, this, according to the Misnah (f), respects the ark, and so Jarchi, which was a symbol of the divine Presence, and went with them to battle; see Joshua 6:4 to fight for you against your...
Matthew Henry
This chapter settles the militia, and establishes the laws and ordinances of war, I. Relating to the soldiers. 1. Those must be encouraged that were drawn up to battle, ver. 1-4. 2. Those must be dismissed and sent back again whose private affairs called for their attendance at home (ver. 5-7), or whose weakness and timidity unfitted them for service in the field, ver. 8, 9. II. Relating to the...