Deuteronomy 20
OGCSUMMARY OF CHAPTER TWENTY
Directions concerning campaigns, 1. The priest shall encourage the people with the assurance that God will accompany and fight for them, 2-4. The officers shall dismiss from the army all who had just built a new house, but had not dedicated it, 5. All who had planted a vineyard, but had not eaten of its fruits, 6. All who had betrothed a wife, but had not brought her home, 7. And all who were timid and faint-hearted, 8. The commanders to be chosen after the timid, &c., had retired, 9. No city to be attacked till they had proclaimed conditions of peace to it, provided it be a city beyond the bounds of the seven Canaanitish nations; if it submitted, it was to become tributary; if not, it was to be beseiged, sacked, and all the males put to the sword; the women, children, and cattle to be taken as booty, 10-15. No such offers to be made to the cities of the Canaanites; of them nothing shall be preserved, and the reason, 16-18. In beseiging a city no trees to be cut down but those who do not bear fruit, 19, 20.
[See Deuteronomy 21:1-9 discussed in lesson fifteen (II, B, 3, f.)]
QUESTIONS, LESSON SIXTEEN (Deuteronomy 20:1-20, Deuteronomy 21:10-14, Deuteronomy 23:9-14)
What function did the priest have who accompanied the army to the battlefield.
Was there a clear line of demarcation between civil and religious laws under the Old Covenant?
Can you recall the four classes of soldiers who could return home from the battlefield? (Finish before proceeding.)
What reason is given for allowing the fearful and faint hearted to return home?
Can you name two differences (related) between the way Israel’s army should treat distant, as contrasted with Canaanite, cities.
What kind of trees were not to be destroyed in battle?
In this lesson, what was the soldier’s reason for taking a foreign wife?
What was required of her before the marriage was official?
Discuss how Deuteronomy 21:10-14 uphold such a woman’s dignity and honor.
Upon what basis could her husband let her go?
Why couldn-’t he sell her as a slave?
What would Jesus have taught about such a marriage?
Deuteronomy 20:1-4
LESSON SIXTEEN Deuteronomy 20:1-20; Deuteronomy 21:10-14; Deuteronomy 23:9-14
g. RULES FOR CONDUCTING THE HOLY WAR (Deuteronomy 20:1-20; Deuteronomy 21:10-14; Deuteronomy 23:9-14)
(1) ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PRIEST (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)
When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto battle, that the priests shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them; 4 for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:1-4
It is one thing to say be not afraid, it is another matter to fulfill this attitude. What element makes it possible?
What was the particular job for the priest of these verses?
This was truly a holy war. What so characterized it?
There must be a lesson in this for other nations, What is it?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 20:1-4
When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. 2 And when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the men, 3 And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies; let not your [minds and] hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble, or be terrified (and in dread) because of them.
4 For the Lord your God is He Who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. [1 Samuel 17:45.]
COMMENT 20:1-4
The instructions of this chapter are peculiar to Deuteronomy. As the people of God, Israel was not a warlike nation; they were rather to abstain from warfare, and as a general rule to cultivate the arts of peace. But they had before them the prospect of a serious and protracted conflict before they could occupy the land which God assigned to them; and they might in future years have to go to war to maintain their independence and repel aggression. In view of this, instructions are here given regarding military services (Pulpit).
THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID (Deuteronomy 20:1)See Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 7:17-24, etc. See also our remarks under Deuteronomy 1:30.
THE PRIEST (Deuteronomy 20:2)The Hebrew word Kohen is consistently so translated, and normally refers to that body of Levites that ministered to the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:1, notes). If that is so here, the priest designated to accompany Israel to war would call on Jehovah for help, and also act as exhorter and inspiration to the soldiersa chaplain. This was the Lord’S war, fought by his people and against his enemies![38] See Numbers 31:6, 1 Samuel 4:3-4, Numbers 10:8-9, 2 Chronicles 13:10-12.
[38] We see no need to give priest an abnormal meaning here. Gesenius remarks that there is a very old opinion of Hebrew writers, that Kohen also signifies prince. But the places in scripture where that definition might apply are, at best, few, and even those few are questioned. His function here was basically a religious one.. the field preacher, not the high priest (Lange).
It was also the custom for a sacrifice to be offered (1 Samuel 13) as a further appeal for God’s blessing in battle. And sometimes Jehovah was consulted by the high priest before war, Judges 20:27-28. It should be seen from all this that Israel’s warespecially those having to do with conquering their promised landwere Holy Wars. Because of this, God’s chosen ministers were closely involved in its progress and success.
Deuteronomy 20:5-9
(2) EXEMPTIONS FROM MILITARY SERVICE (Deuteronomy 20:5-9)
5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof. 7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. 8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return to his house, lest his brethren’s heart melt as his heart. 9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:5-9
The possibilities for deferment from military services were indeed varied. List them.
Wouldn-’t everyone claim exemption? Obviously man would not claim exemption. Why?
Cowardize was a recognized fault. We are in the greatest of all armies and engaged in a desperate conflict. Apply.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 20:5-9
5 And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. 6 And what man has planted a vineyard and has not used the fruit of it? Let him also return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit of it. 7 And what man has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her? Let him return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her. 8 And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, What man is fearful and fainthearted? Let him return to his house, lest [because of him] his bretheren’s [mind and] heart faint as does his own. 9 And when the officers finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders at the head of the people.
COMMENT 20:5-9
A house built but not dedicated; a vineyard planted but not harvested; a man betrothed but not married; a man faint-hearted but on the front lines of battle (i.e., a coward)all these are allowed to return home until or unless their circumstances changed and they were thus qualified to wage war. In the case of the first three, if they died in battle it would be left to others to consummate what they had begun.
NEW HOUSE. NOT DEDICATED (Deuteronomy 20:5)Probably formal possession was taken of the house by some solemn ceremony, followed by a festive entertainment (Pulpit).
THAT HATH BETROTHED A WIFE (Deuteronomy 20:7)The Hebrew word aras signifies to espouse a woman; properly, to make a spouse (Gesenius), become engaged to (a girl), betroth (a wife) (Baumgartner). Cf. Deuteronomy 28:30. Whether the wedding ceremony was over or not, he had not yet begun to make a home with his fiancée. Compare Deuteronomy 24:5. In the economy of Israel, one betrothed was considered legally bound. See note, Deuteronomy 22:23-27.
FEARFUL AND FAINT-HEARTED (Deuteronomy 20:8)Is there anyone afraid and disheartened (The Torah); afraid and weak-hearted (Berkely). And note the reason for sending him homeLEST HIS BRETHREN’S HEART MELT AS HIS HEART (Deuteronomy 20:8)His influence might spread like leaven, disheartening and discouraging the entire army (especially if there were several of them around!) Cf. Deuteronomy 1:28.
It is not too hard to see that the same principle applies to those of us joined together in the warfare for Christ! Speak, act, and think discouragingly and, because we are all creatures of influence, others are caused to have feeble knees and weak hands. That is why Jesus taught If ANY man would come after me [if any man would join his hosts and do battle against -the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places-’], let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).
Deuteronomy 20:10-15
(3) TREATMENT OF CITIES IN FAR-OFF NATIONS (Deuteronomy 20:10-15)
10 When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee. 12 And if it will make not peace with thee, then thou shalt besiege it: 13 and then Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: 14 but the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee. 15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:10-15
For what particular cities were there instructions given? Why the difference in treatment of enemies?
Does this scripture sanction slavery?
Read Numbers 15:15-16 for further information concerning this section.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 20:10-15
10 When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. 11 And if that city makes an answer of peace to you and opens to you, then all the people found in it shall be tributary to you and they shall serve you. 12 But if it refuses to make peace with you and fights against you, then you shall besiege it; 13 And when the Lord your God has given it into your hands, you shall smite every male there with the edge of the sword. 14 But the women, the little ones, the beasts, and all that is in the city, all the spoil in it, you shall take for yourselves, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the Lord your God has given you. 15 So shall you treat all the cities which are very far off from you, that do not belong to the cities of these nations.
COMMENT 20:10-15
PROCLAIM PEACE UNTO IT (Deuteronomy 20:10)They were to attempt peace negotiations on the terms specified.
SHALL BECOME TRIBUTARY (Deuteronomy 20:11)The Hebrew word mas Baumgartner defines as forced labourers. forced services, task word, and here specifically, be forced to taskwork. Thus the added phrase and shall serve thee.
THOU SHALT SMITE EVERY MALE (Deuteronomy 20:13)The rest of the people could be spared, and taken captive. Those children or women who settled in Israel, however, when then subject to Israel’s law (Numbers 15:15-16).
The law towards those people living in the area of Israel’s promised land, however, was far different. See below.
Deuteronomy 20:16-18
(4) TREATMENT OF CANAANITE CITIES (Deuteronomy 20:16-18)
16 But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth; 17 but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee; 18 that they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so would ye sin against Jehovah your God.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:16-18
Isn-’t there some admission of weakness in the need to utterly destroy these nations so that they teach you not to do after all their abominations. ?
Why not teach the other nations rather than learning from their teaching?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 20:16-18
16 But of the cities of these people, which the Lord your God gives you for inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes. 17 But you shall utterly exterminate them, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord your God has commanded you; 18 So they may not teach you all the abominable practices they have carried on for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the Lord your God.
COMMENT 20:16-18
With these cities there was to be no arbitration, no peace conferences, no long negotiations for peaceful coexistence. They were to be totally and finally destroyed. And God well knew what would happen if they were not (Deuteronomy 20:18). See also Deuteronomy 7:1-5 and notes.
Deuteronomy 20:19-20
(5) RESPECT FOR NATURAL RESOURCES (Deuteronomy 20:19-20)
19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged ofthee? 20 Only the trees of which thou knowest that they are not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 20:19, 20
Why would trees be destroyed? Why not destroy them?
What two-fold use was made of trees?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 20:19, 20
19 When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by using an ax on them, for you can eat their fruit; you must not cut them down, for is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged by you? 20 Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.
COMMENT 20:19, 20
As we can now see, all is not fair in love and war! This law, strange as it may appear, was probably designed for Israel’s own good. In the process of waging a long war (Deuteronomy 20:19), when everything living in the path of combat would normally be destroyed, the fruit trees were to be spared.
FOR IS THE TREE OF THE FIELD MAN. ? (Deuteronomy 20:19)the Canaanites were being destroyed, not only to make way for Israel, but because of their wickedness as a nation Genesis 15:16, Leviticus 18:24-25. But the fruit-trees were to be spared.. it was a merciful provision to spare all fruit-bearing trees, because they yielded the fruit which supported man’s life; and it was sound policy also, for even the conquerors must perish if the means of life were cut off.
It is diabolic cruelty to add to the miseries of war the horrors of famine; and this is done where the trees of the field are cut down, the dykes broken to drown the land, the villages burnt, and the crops wilfully spoiled. O execrable war! Subversive of all the charities of life! (Clarke).