Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 20

Introduction

Overview

Deuteronomy 20:1, The priest’s exhortation to encourage the people to battle; Deuteronomy 20:5, The officers’ proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war; Deuteronomy 20:10, How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace; Deuteronomy 20:16, What cities must be devoted; Deuteronomy 20:19, Trees of man’s meat must not be destroyed in the siege.

Verse 1

goest out: Deuteronomy 3:21, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 7:1

horses: Joshua 10:5-8, Joshua 11:4-6, Joshua 11:9, Judges 4:3-9, 2 Chronicles 14:11, 2 Chronicles 20:12, Psalms 20:7, Psalms 33:16, Psalms 33:17, Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 37:24, Isaiah 37:25

the Lord: Deuteronomy 2:7, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Genesis 26:3, Numbers 23:21, Joshua 1:5, Joshua 1:9, Judges 6:12, 2 Chronicles 32:7, 2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalms 46:7, Psalms 46:11, Psalms 118:6, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:9, Isaiah 8:10, Isaiah 43:2, Romans 8:31

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:19 - God shall Numbers 14:9 - the Lord Deuteronomy 1:21 - fear not Deuteronomy 1:30 - he shall Joshua 10:8 - General Joshua 17:18 - for thou shalt 1 Samuel 10:7 - God 1 Samuel 17:32 - Let 1 Kings 8:44 - go out to battle 1 Kings 20:1 - and horses 2 Kings 19:6 - Be not afraid 2 Chronicles 6:34 - thy people 2 Chronicles 15:2 - The Lord 2 Chronicles 20:15 - Be not afraid Ecclesiastes 8:8 - discharge Isaiah 41:10 - Fear Zechariah 10:5 - because

Verse 2

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

Verse 3

let not: Psalms 27:1-3, Isaiah 35:3, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-14, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 10:31, Ephesians 6:11-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Hebrews 12:12, Hebrews 12:13, Revelation 2:10

faint: Heb. be tender

tremble: Heb. make haste, Isaiah 28:16

be ye terrified: Psalms 3:6, Isaiah 8:12, Isaiah 8:13, Isaiah 57:7, Isaiah 57:8, Matthew 8:26, Mark 16:6, Mark 16:18, Acts 18:9, Acts 18:10, Acts 27:24, 1 Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 13:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:13 - Fear ye not Numbers 14:9 - neither Numbers 21:34 - Fear him Deuteronomy 3:2 - Fear Deuteronomy 31:6 - fear not 1 Samuel 7:10 - discomfited 2 Kings 19:6 - Be not afraid Nehemiah 4:14 - General Psalms 108:11 - go forth Isaiah 7:4 - neither be fainthearted Ephesians 3:13 - ye Ephesians 6:10 - be Hebrews 12:3 - lest

Verse 4

to fight: Deuteronomy 1:30, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 11:25, Deuteronomy 32:30, Exodus 14:14, Joshua 10:42, Joshua 23:10, 2 Chronicles 13:12, 2 Chronicles 32:7, 2 Chronicles 32:8, Psalms 144:1, Psalms 144:2, Romans 8:37

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:3 - goeth over Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong Joshua 1:5 - There shall Joshua 23:3 - for the 1 Samuel 7:10 - discomfited 2 Kings 19:6 - Be not afraid 1 Chronicles 22:18 - before the Lord 2 Chronicles 20:15 - Be not afraid Nehemiah 4:14 - General Nehemiah 4:20 - our God Psalms 60:10 - didst Psalms 108:11 - go forth Isaiah 28:6 - and for strength Isaiah 52:12 - for Jeremiah 42:11 - for I Ephesians 6:10 - be

Verse 5

the officers: Deuteronomy 1:15, Deuteronomy 16:18, Numbers 31:14, Numbers 31:48, 1 Samuel 17:18

dedicated: Nehemiah 12:27, Psalms 30:1, *title

Reciprocal: Numbers 7:10 - dedicating Nehemiah 3:1 - sanctified it 2 Timothy 2:4 - that warreth

Verse 6

eaten of it: Heb. made it common, Deuteronomy 28:1 - Deuteronomy 30:20, Leviticus 19:23-25, Jeremiah 31:5

lest he die: Isaiah 65:22, Zephaniah 1:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:20 - planted Deuteronomy 28:30 - betroth 1 Corinthians 9:7 - planteth

Verse 7

betrothed a wife: It was customary among the Jews to contract matrimony, espouse, or betroth, and for a considerable time to leave the parties in the houses of the respective parents; and when the bridegroom had made proper preparations, then the bride was brought home to his house, and the marriage consummated. The provisions in this verse refer to a case of this kind; though the Jews extend it to him who had newly consummated his marriage, and even to him who had married his brother's wife. It was deemed a peculiar hardship for a person to be obliged to go to battle, who had left a house unfinished, newly purchased land half tilled, or a wife with whom he had just contracted marriage. Deuteronomy 22:23-25, Deuteronomy 24:5, Matthew 1:18

lest he die: Deuteronomy 28:30, Luke 14:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:8 - who hath

Verse 8

fearful: Deuteronomy 1:28, Deuteronomy 23:9, Judges 7:3, Luke 9:62, Acts 15:37, Acts 15:38, Revelation 3:16, Revelation 21:8

lest his brethren's: Numbers 13:31-33, Numbers 14:1-3, Numbers 32:9, 1 Corinthians 15:33

faint: Heb. melt, Deuteronomy 1:28, *marg. Exodus 15:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 13:17 - the people repent Joshua 1:14 - the mighty Joshua 2:11 - our hearts 1 Samuel 13:7 - followed him trembling Jeremiah 49:23 - fainthearted Ezekiel 21:7 - and every 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - be not weary

Verse 9

to lead the people: Heb. to be in the head of the people, Deuteronomy 20:9

Verse 10

then proclaim: 2 Samuel 20:18-22, Isaiah 57:19, Zechariah 9:10, Luke 10:5, Luke 10:6, Acts 10:36, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Ephesians 2:17

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:26 - with words Deuteronomy 7:2 - make no Deuteronomy 21:10 - thou goest Joshua 9:15 - made peace Judges 11:12 - sent messengers Judges 20:12 - sent men Judges 21:13 - call peaceably

Verse 11

tributaries: Leviticus 25:42-46, Joshua 9:22, Joshua 9:23, Joshua 9:27, Joshua 11:19, Joshua 11:20, Joshua 16:10, Judges 1:28, Judges 1:30-35, 1 Kings 9:21, 1 Kings 9:22, Psalms 120:7, Luke 19:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:26 - with words Deuteronomy 7:2 - make no Joshua 9:6 - We be Joshua 9:8 - General Joshua 9:15 - made peace Joshua 17:13 - put the Judges 11:12 - sent messengers 2 Samuel 20:18 - They were wont 2 Kings 6:22 - wouldest

Verse 13

thou shalt smite: Numbers 31:7-9, Numbers 31:17, Numbers 31:18, 1 Kings 11:15, 1 Kings 11:16, Psalms 2:6-12, Psalms 21:8, Psalms 21:9, Psalms 110:1, Luke 19:27, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:15 - General

Verse 14

the women: Numbers 31:9, Numbers 31:12, Numbers 31:18, Numbers 31:35-54, Joshua 8:2, Joshua 11:14, 2 Chronicles 14:13-15, 2 Chronicles 20:25, Psalms 68:12, Romans 8:37

take unto thyself: Heb. spoil

thou shalt eat: Joshua 22:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:7 - all Numbers 31:11 - General Numbers 31:53 - General Deuteronomy 2:35 - General

Verse 15

Reciprocal: Joshua 9:9 - From a Joshua 9:24 - the Lord Ezekiel 20:11 - which

Verse 16

Deuteronomy 7:1-4, Deuteronomy 7:16, Numbers 21:2, Numbers 21:3, Numbers 21:35, Numbers 33:52, Joshua 6:17-21, Joshua 9:24, Joshua 9:27, Joshua 10:28, Joshua 10:40, Joshua 11:11, Joshua 11:12, Joshua 11:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 27:28 - no devoted Numbers 31:15 - General Deuteronomy 2:33 - the Lord Deuteronomy 2:34 - utterly destroyed Deuteronomy 3:6 - we utterly Deuteronomy 7:2 - utterly Deuteronomy 31:5 - according Joshua 6:21 - utterly Joshua 9:7 - how shall Joshua 11:20 - as the Lord Judges 2:2 - And ye shall 1 Samuel 15:3 - utterly destroy Psalms 106:34 - concerning Ezekiel 20:11 - which

Verse 17

thou shalt: Isaiah 34:5, Isaiah 34:6, Jeremiah 48:10, Jeremiah 50:35-40, Ezekiel 38:21-23, Revelation 19:18

the Hittites: Deuteronomy 7:1

Reciprocal: Leviticus 27:28 - no devoted Deuteronomy 7:2 - utterly Deuteronomy 31:5 - according Joshua 6:21 - utterly Joshua 10:28 - them Joshua 11:12 - as Moses Joshua 11:20 - as the Lord 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Amorite Ezra 9:1 - of the Canaanites Psalms 106:34 - concerning Ezekiel 16:3 - Amorite

Verse 18

Deuteronomy 7:4, Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:30, Deuteronomy 12:31, Deuteronomy 18:19, Exodus 23:33, Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3, Psalms 106:34-40, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Ephesians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:5, 2 Timothy 2:17, 2 Timothy 2:18, Revelation 18:3-5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:27 - General Deuteronomy 12:4 - General Ezra 9:1 - of the Canaanites

Verse 19

thou shalt not: Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:15-20, Matthew 21:19, Luke 13:7-9, John 15:2-8

for the tree: etc. or, for, O man, the tree of the field is to be employed in the siege, The original is exceedingly difficult. The LXX has it, "Is the tree in the field a man, to enter the trench before thee?" The Latin Vulgate: "For it is a tree, and not a man, neither can it increase the number of those who war against thee;" Onkelos, "For the tree of the field is not as a man, that it should come against thee in the siege;" and to the same purpose the Arabic, Philo, and Josephus who say, "If trees could speak, they would cry out, that it is unjust that they, who were no cause of the war, should suffer the miseries of it." However rendered, the sense is sufficiently clear, and it is a merciful provision to spare all the fruit trees for the support of both the besieged and besiegers. Deuteronomy 26:6

to employ: etc. Heb. to go from before thee

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 24:6 - life 2 Kings 3:19 - fell 2 Kings 3:25 - and felled

Verse 20

thou shalt build: Deuteronomy 1:28, 2 Chronicles 26:15, Ecclesiastes 9:14, Isaiah 37:33, Jeremiah 6:6, Jeremiah 33:4, Ezekiel 17:17

be subdued: Heb. come down

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 3:19 - fell 2 Kings 3:25 - and felled