Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Deuteronomy 20
Concise Complete
Exhortation and proclamation respecting those who
went to war. (1-9) Peace to be offered, What cities were to be devoted. (10-20)
Verses 1-9 In
the wars wherein Israel engaged according to the will of God, they might expect
the Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their only confidence. In these
respects they were types of the Christian's warfare. Those unwilling to fight,
must be sent away. The unwillingness might arise from a man's outward condition.
God would not be served by men forced against their will. Thy people shall be
willing,
psalms 110:3. In running the Christian race, and fighting the good fight of faith, we must
lay aside all that would make us unwilling. If a man's unwillingness rose from
weakness and fear, he had leave to return from the war. The reason here given
is, lest his brethren's heart fail as well as his heart. We must take heed that
we fear not with the fear of them that are afraid, Isa 8:12.
Verses
10-12 The Israelites are here directed about the nations on whom they made
war. Let this show God's grace in dealing with sinners. He proclaims peace, and
beseeches them to be reconciled. Let it also show us our duty in dealing with
our brethren. Whoever are for war, we must be for peace. Of the cities given to
Israel, none of their inhabitants must be left. Since it could not be expected
that they should be cured of their idolatry, they would hurt Israel. These
regulations are not the rules of our conduct, but Christ's law of love. The
horrors of war must fill the feeling heart with anguish upon every recollection;
and are proofs of the wickedness of man, the power of Satan, and the just
vengeance of God, who thus scourges a guilty world. But how dreadful their case
who are engaged in unequal conflict with their Maker, who will not submit to
render him the easy tribute of worship and praise! Certain ruin awaits them. Let
neither the number nor the power of the enemies of our souls dismay us; nor let
even our own weakness cause us to tremble or to faint. The Lord will save us;
but in this war let none engage whose hearts are fond of the world, or afraid of
the cross and the conflict. Care is here taken that in besieging cities the
fruit-trees should not be destroyed. God is a better friend to man than he is to
himself; and God's law consults our interests and comforts; while our own
appetites and passions, which we indulge, are enemies to our welfare. Many of
the Divine precepts restrain us from destroying that which is for our life and
food. The Jews understand this as forbidding all wilful waste upon any account
whatsoever. Every creature of God is good; as nothing is to be refused, so
nothing is to be abused. We may live to want what we carelessly waste.
Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
