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Read the Bible

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Deuteronomy 20:2

And it shall be, when ye are coming nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Priest;   Thompson Chain Reference - War;   War-Peace;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Priests;   Protection;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Priest;   War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - War, Holy War;   Worship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Alms;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - War;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Armies;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Deuteronomy;   War;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anointing;   Commandments, the 613;   Judas Maccabeus;   Phinehas;   Soṭah;   War;  

Parallel Translations

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when ye are come nere vnto the battel, then the Priest shal come forth to speake vnto the people,
Hebrew Names Version
It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the Kohen shall approach and speak to the people,
Easy-to-Read Version
"When you go to the battle, the priest must go to the soldiers and speak to them.
English Standard Version
And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people
American Standard Version
And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
Bible in Basic English
And when you are on the point of attacking, let the priest come forward and say to the people,
Contemporary English Version
Before you march into battle, a priest will go to the front of the army
Complete Jewish Bible
When you are about to go into battle, the cohen is to come forward and address the people.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
King James Version (1611)
And it shall bee when ye are come nigh vnto the battell, that the Priest shall approach and speake vnto the people,
Amplified Bible
"When you approach the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people,
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it shall come to pass whenever thou shalt draw nigh to battle, that the priest shall draw nigh and speak to the people, and shall say to them,
English Revised Version
And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
Berean Standard Bible
When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army,
Lexham English Bible
And then when you approach the battle, then the priest shall come near and speak to the troops.
Literal Translation
And it shall be, when you draw near to battle, the priest shall come and speak to the people,
New Century Version
The priest must come and speak to the army before you go into battle.
New English Translation
As you move forward for battle, the priest will approach and say to the soldiers,
New King James Version
So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people.
New Living Translation
When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops.
New Life Bible
When you are coming near the battle, the religious leader will come near and speak to the people.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the battle is now at hand, the priest shall stand before the army, and shall speak to the people in this manner:
George Lamsa Translation
And when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
Good News Translation
Before you start fighting, a priest is to come forward and say to the army,
New American Standard Bible
"When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people.
King James Version
And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
Darby Translation
And it shall be, when ye approach unto the battle, that the priest shall draw near and speak unto the people,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli whanne the batel neiyeth now, the preest schal stonde bifor the scheltrun, and thus he schal speke to the puple,
Young's Literal Translation
and it hath been, in your drawing near unto the battle, that the priest hath come nigh, and spoken unto the people,
World English Bible
It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
Revised Standard Version
And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people,
Update Bible Version
And it shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall be when ye are come nigh to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when ye are come nye vnto battayle, ye priest shall come foorth to speake vnto the people,
Christian Standard Bible®
When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now wha ye are come nye vnto the battayll, the prest shal steppe forth, & speake to the people,
New Revised Standard
Before you engage in battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the troops,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it will be, when you are drawing near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the people.

Contextual Overview

1 When thou shalt go out to wage war against thine enemy, and shalt see the horses and chariots of a people more in number than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them, - for, Yahweh thy God, is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are coming nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people; 3 and shall say unto them, - Hear, O Israel, ye are coming near to-day, unto battle against your enemies, - let not your heart faint do not fear nor start nor quake because of them. 4 For Yahweh your God, is he that is going with you, - to fight for you against your enemies to save you. 5 Then shall the officers speak unto the people saying, Who is the man that hath built a new house and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return unto his house, - lest he die in the battle, and, another man dedicate it. 6 And who is the man that hath planted a vineyard and hath not thrown it open? let him go and return unto his house, - lest he die in the battle, and another man, throw it open. 7 And who is the man that hath betrothed a wife and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, - lest he die in the battle, and, another man, take her. 8 Then shall the officers further speak unto the people, and say - Who is the man that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, - lest his brethren's heart melt as well as his heart. 9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, then shall they appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Numbers 10:8, Numbers 10:9, Numbers 31:6, Judges 20:27, Judges 20:28, 1 Samuel 14:18, 1 Samuel 30:7, 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Chronicles 13:12

Reciprocal: Joshua 6:6 - Take up the ark

Cross-References

Genesis 12:15
And the princes of Pharaoh beheld her, and praised her unto Pharaoh, - so the woman was taken to the house of Pharaoh;
Genesis 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely there is no fear of God, in this place, - therefore will they slay me for the sake of my wife.
Genesis 20:12
Moreover also, in truth, my sister daughter of my father, she is, only not daughter of my mother, - so she became my wife.
Genesis 20:13
And so it came to pass when the Gods caused me to wander from my fathers house, that I said to her, This, is thy lovingkindness, wherewith thou shalt deal with me, - Into what-soever place we enter, say of me My brother, is he.
Genesis 26:1
And there came to be a famine in the land, besides the first famine which happened in the days of Abraham, - so Isaac went his way unto Abimelech, king of the Philistines towards Gerar;
Genesis 26:7
Then asked the men of the place as to his wife, and he said, My sister, is she, - For he feared to say My wife, lest said he the men of the place should slay me on account of Rebekah, for fair to Nook on, she is.
Genesis 26:16
And Abimelech said unto Isaac, - Get thee from us, for thou hast become far mightier than we.
2 Chronicles 19:2
And there came out to meet him, Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, who said unto King Jehoshaphat, Unto the lawless, was it right to give help? and, on them who hate Yahweh, to bestow thy love? For this cause, therefore, is there wrath against thee, from before Yahweh;
2 Chronicles 20:37
Then prophesied, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, against Jehoshaphat, saying, - Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, Yahweh hath broken in pieces thy works. So the ships were wrecked, and were not able to go unto Tarshish.
2 Chronicles 32:31
Yet verily, with regard to the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire concerning the wonderful token which came to pass in the land, God left him, - to prove him, to take note of all that was in his heart.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, and whose business it is to encourage the people of God to fight the Lord's battles against sin, Satan, and the world, and not to be afraid of their spiritual enemies directing them to take to them the whole armour of God, and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, to follow him the captain of their salvation, assuring them of victory through him who makes them more than conquerors, and that their warfare is or shortly will be accomplished.

d Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1, 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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.


 
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