Deuteronomy 20

Deuteronomy 20:5

5.—What man—hath built a new house, &c.] Probably because men in these circumstances would be apt to be entangled with cares, and thereby rendered less serviceable in the war. See 2 Tim. ii. 4. Bp. Kidder. At the same time the indulgence manifests great tenderness and humanity towards the individual, who was to profit by it; and is one amongst numberless instances of the considerate benevolence of the Legislator. Edit. Some The expiation of an uncertain murder. Before CHRIST 1451. Or, for, O man, the tree of the field is to be employed in the siege. from before that. come down.

Deuteronomy 20:18

18. That they teach you not &c.] See the note on chap. vii. 2. Chap. XXI. ver. 1. If one be found slain in the land] The injunctions here given follow very properly after the law Moses had just delivered, about making war, because then the bodies of dead men are most frequently found. The wisest lawgivers took the greatest care that, when dead bodies were found, proper inquisition should be made when and how the persons were slain; but in no ancient law was such effectual provision made for the discovery of secret murders as in this of Moses. Plato, in his ninth book of laws, has a law something Before CHRIST 1451. midst. The usage of a captive taken to wife. DEUTERONOMY. A stubborn son is Before CHRIST 1451. when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.