Deuteronomy 20:1-9
Lexham English Bible
20 “If you go out to war against your enemies and you see a horse and a chariot, an army[a] larger that you, you shall not be afraid because of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, the one who brought you from the land of Egypt. 2 And then[b] when you approach the battle, then the priest shall come near and speak to the troops. 3 And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, Israel, you are near today[c] to the battle against your enemies; do not lose heart;[d] you shall not be afraid, and you shall not panic, and you shall not be terrified because of them,[e] 4 for Yahweh your God is going with you to fight for you against your enemies to help you.’ 5 And the officials shall speak to the troops, saying,[f] ‘Who is the man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to this house, so that he does not die in battle and another man[g] dedicates it. 6 And who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed it? Let him go and let him return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and another man[h] enjoys it. 7 And who is the man who got engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and let him return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and another man[i] marries her.’ 8 And the officials shall continue to speak to the troops, and they shall say, ‘What man[j] is afraid and disheartened?[k] Let him go, and let him return to his house, and let him not cause the heart of his brothers to melt[l] like his.’ 9 And when the officials have finished speaking[m] to the army troops, then they shall appoint commanders of divisions at the head of the troops.
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- Deuteronomy 20:1 Literally “a people”
- Deuteronomy 20:2 Literally “And it will happen”
- Deuteronomy 20:3 Literally “the day”
- Deuteronomy 20:3 Literally “do not be faint/tender-hearted”
- Deuteronomy 20:3 Literally “from their faces”
- Deuteronomy 20:5 Literally “to say”
- Deuteronomy 20:5 Literally “a man other”
- Deuteronomy 20:6 Literally “a man other”
- Deuteronomy 20:7 Literally “a man other”
- Deuteronomy 20:8 Literally “Who is the man”
- Deuteronomy 20:8 Literally “and soft/weak of the heart”
- Deuteronomy 20:8 The verb has a causal meaning here
- Deuteronomy 20:9 Literally “it will happen as to finish the officials to speak”
Deuteronomy 20:1-9
International Standard Version
Rules of War
20 “When you go to war against your enemies and observe more horses, chariots, and soldiers[a] than you have, don’t be afraid of them, for the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt is with you. 2 As you draw near for battle, let the priest approach and speak to the army.[b] 3 He will say to them, ‘Listen, Israel! You’re about to go into battle today against your enemies. Don’t be faint-hearted. Don’t be afraid, don’t panic, and don’t be terrified to face them. 4 For the Lord your God will be with you, fighting on your behalf against your enemies in order to grant you victory.’
5 “Furthermore, let the officials ask the army, ‘Is there a man here[c] who has built a new house but has not yet dedicated it? Let him go back home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man dedicate it. 6 And is there a man here[d] who has planted a vineyard and not yet benefited from it? Let him go home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man use it. 7 And is there a man here[e] who is engaged to a woman and has not yet married her? Let him go back home. Otherwise, he may die in battle and another man marry her.’
8 “Let the officials also speak to the army, ‘Is there a man here[f] who is afraid and faint-hearted? Let him go back home. Otherwise, he may demoralize his fellow soldier.’[g]
9 “When the officials have finished speaking to the army, they must appoint officers to lead the troops.”
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- Deuteronomy 20:1 Lit. people
- Deuteronomy 20:2 Lit. people; and so throughout the chapter
- Deuteronomy 20:5 The Heb. lacks here
- Deuteronomy 20:6 The Heb. lacks here
- Deuteronomy 20:7 The Heb. lacks here
- Deuteronomy 20:8 The Heb. lacks here
- Deuteronomy 20:8 Lit. his brother
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