Statutes About Warfare

20 “If you go out to battle against your enemies and see ^(A)horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, ^(B)do not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. ² Now it will be, when you are drawing near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the people. ³ And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are drawing near to the battle against your enemies today. Do not let your heart be faint. ^(C)Do not be afraid, nor be alarmed, nor be in dread before them, ⁴ for Yahweh your God ^(D)is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ ⁵ The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Who is the man that has built a new house and has not ^(E)dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. ⁶ Who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not ^[a]begun to use its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man ^[b]begin to use its fruit. ^7 (F)And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not ^[c]married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man ^[d]marry her.’ ⁸ Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘^(G)Who is the man that is afraid and whose heart is faint? Let him go and return to his house, so that ^[e]he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’ ⁹ Now it will be that when the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people.