Skip to Content
Commentary Library

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20:8

Read verse in KJV Bible Reader

John Gill - Exposition

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 - Exposition

John Gill

And the officers shall speak further unto the people,.... According to Maimonides (n), the priest the anointed of war spoke to the end of De 20:7 and which the officers repeated after him to the people aloud, as before observed; and then after that an officer speaks of himself, or in his own words, and not in those of the priest, as follows; what man that is fearful, c. and then another officer...

Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary

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...