Deuteronomy 20:1-20 | DiscipleDeck

Bible Commentary

Deuteronomy 20:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

The instructions in 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 at this time the prospect of a serious and protracted conflict before they could occupy the land which God had 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 the conducting of military service.

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