It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them; for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
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Deuteronomy 20:2-4 sits inside this longer paragraph.
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them; for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
Parallel Translations
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It shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
and shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared of them;
for Yahweh your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
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And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Show all 3 translations
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And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
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 be alarmed, neither be ye affrighted at them;
for the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Commandments (2)
The laws of the Torah, each cited and shown as a primary source.
Cross-references (39)
- Exodus 14:14 (v4) Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still.”
- Joshua 23:10 (vv3–4) One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.
- Deuteronomy 1:30 (v4) Yahweh your God, who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
- Deuteronomy 3:22 (v4) You shall not fear them; for Yahweh your God himself fights for you.”
- Deuteronomy 11:25 (v4) No man will be able to stand before you. Yahweh your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you tread on,…
Show all 37 cross-references
- Romans 8:37 (v4) No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
- Psalms 3:6 (v3) I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.
- Psalms 144:1-2 (v4) Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle: my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my…
- Hebrews 13:6 (v3) So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
- 2 Chronicles 13:12 (vv2, 4) Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t…
- Deuteronomy 32:30 (v4) How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and Yahweh had delivered them up?
- Revelation 2:10 (v3) Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be…
- 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (v4) “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there…
- Psalms 27:1-3 (v3) Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers came…
- Isaiah 8:12-13 (v3) “Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized.…
- Joshua 10:42 (v4) Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
- Matthew 10:28 (v3) Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body…
- Ephesians 6:11-18 (v3) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and…
- 1 Timothy 6:12 (v3) Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight…
- Hebrews 12:12-13 (v3) Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be…
- Numbers 10:8-9 (v2) “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. When you…
- Numbers 31:6 (v2) Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the…
- Matthew 10:31 (v3) Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
- Judges 20:27-28 (v2) The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son…
- 1 Samuel 14:18 (v2) Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time.
- 1 Samuel 30:7-8 (v2) David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David. David…
- Isaiah 28:16 (v3) Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure…
- Isaiah 35:3-4 (v3) Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm. Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your…
- Isaiah 41:10-14 (v3) Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will…
- Isaiah 57:7-8 (v3) On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed. You also went up there to offer sacrifice. You have set up your memorial behind the…
- Matthew 8:26 (v3) He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
- Matthew 10:16 (v3) “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
- Mark 16:6 (v3) He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place…
- Mark 16:18 (v3) they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will…
- Acts 18:9-10 (v3) The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack…
- Acts 27:24 (v3) saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (v3) See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.
37 distinct cross-references across this passage (39 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v4 Is present to defend you with his grace and…
Is present to defend you with his grace and power.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Deu 20:2 And it shall be, when ye are…
Deu 20:2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
Ver. 2. That the priest shall approach.] For some priests ordinarily went along with the army; not to be Tuba rebellionis, as the Papists said of Zuinglius, nor evangelium flammeum praedicare, as they said of Beza, as a common firebrand or fomenter of discord; but to blow the holy trumpets, "that the people might be remembered before the Lord, and saved from their enemies"; {Num 10:8-9 2Ch 13:12} and to say unto them, as in 2Ch 19:11, "Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good." The valour of the Gauls was admired by the Romans. It proceeded from that instruction of the Druids, their priests, concerning the immortality of the soul, &c.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–3 The priest; an eminent priest appointed for this work,…
The priest; an eminent priest appointed for this work, and to blow with the holy trumpets, Num 10:9; 31:6.
Speak unto the people; either successively to one regiment of the army after another, or to some by himself, to others by his brethren or deputies, which accompanied him for that end.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–4 When all things are preparing for it, and it…
When all things are preparing for it, and it seems unavoidable:
that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people; not any priest, but one appointed for this service; who is called
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the anointed of war, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, and concerning whom Maimonides (d) is more particular; he says,"they appoint a priest to speak to the people at the time of war, and they anoint him with the anointing oil, and he is called the anointed of war; twice the anointed of war speaks unto the people, once in a book at the time they go forth, before they set in battle array, he says to the people, "what man is there", &c. and when he has caused his words to be heard, he returns; at another time, when they are set in array, he says, "fear not", &c.''this man seems to be an emblem of Gospel ministers, who are anointed with the gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, and whose business it is to encourage the people of God to fight the Lord's battles against sin, Satan, and the world, and not to be afraid of their spiritual enemies; directing them to take to them the whole armour of God, and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, to follow him the captain of their salvation, assuring them of victory through him who makes them more than conquerors, and that their warfare is or shortly will be accomplished.
(d) Hilchot Melachim, c. 7. sect. 1, 2.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v2 Speak unto the people - Probably to one regiment…
Speak unto the people - Probably to one regiment of the army after another.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v2 Verse 2. The priest shall approach, and speak unto…
Verse 2. The priest shall approach, and speak unto the people] The priest on these occasions was the representative of that God whose servant he was, and whose worship he conducted. It is remarkable that almost all ancient nations took their priests with them to battle, as they did not expect success without having the object of their adoration with them, and they supposed they secured his presence by having that of his representative.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v2 Deu 20:2. The priest shall approach — The Jews…
Deu 20:2. The priest shall approach — The Jews say there was a priest anointed for the purpose, whose office, as we may gather from Num 31:6, was to blow with the trumpet when they were preparing for battle. And shall speak to the people — Probably exhorting them, in the most persuasive manner, to a courageous and undaunted performance of their duty, considering their cause as God’s, and relying on his protection and aid.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v2 The priest - Not the high priest, but one…
The priest - Not the high priest, but one appointed for the purpose, and called, according to the rabbis, “the anointed of the war”: hence, perhaps the expression of Jer 6:4, etc. “prepare ye” (literally consecrate) “war.” Thus, Phinehas went with the warriors to fight against Midian (Num 31:6; compare 1Sa 4:4, 1Sa 4:11; 2Ch 13:12).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2–4 Priest. Eleazar, the high priest, acted in this capacity…
Priest. Eleazar, the high priest, acted in this capacity in the war against Madian, and sounded the trumpet, as it was not beneath his dignity. Many priests always attended the army, (Calmet) the captain of whom (Haydock) first made the declarations (ver. 5, 6, 7,) to the whole army; and these were repeated by the inferior priests at the head of each company, when the army was set in array. So were also the promises of protection, (ver. 3, 4,) when all were ready for battle. The Rabbins assert, that the option was granted only in those wars which were undertaken without the express command of God, and that officers were placed in the rear with hatchets or scythes, to cut the legs of those who attempted to flee. (Grotius; &c.) --- But this seems to be an invention of their own, and Moses makes no distinction between voluntary wars and those of precept. These regulations were, no doubt, observed, through the sacred historians do not mention the particulars. (Calmet) See 1 Machabees iii. 56.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2, 4 when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that…
when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people--Jewish writers say that there was a war priest appointed by a special ceremonial to attend the army. It was natural that the solemn objects and motives of religion should have been applied to animate patriotism, and so give additional impulse to valor; other people have done this. But in the case of Israel, the regular attendance of a priest on the battlefield was in accordance with their theocratic government, in which everything was done directly by God through His delegated ministers. It was the province of this priest to sound the trumpets (Num 10:9; Num 31:6), and he had others under him who repeated at the head of each battalion the exhortations which he addressed to the warriors in general. The speech (Deu 20:3-4) is marked by a brevity and expressiveness admirably suited to the occasion, namely, when the men were drawn up in line.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v2 2. The priest shall approach and speak unto the…
2. The priest shall approach and speak unto the people — According to the rabbins, the priest who thus accompanied the army was called the “Anointed for the war.” He held a high rank. See Num_31:6.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–4 2. when ye draw nigh] LXX thou drawest nigh:…
2. when ye draw nigh] LXX thou drawest nigh: see introd. note.
to the war] Not battle. The captains had still to be appointed (Deu_20:9) and this must have taken place at the start of the campaign, not on the eve of engagement with the foe.
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the priest] Or (it may equally be) a priest: see introd.
Hear, O Israel] Deu_4:1; here as there with Pl. vbs following.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–4 (2) The priest.—There is no mention of the Levite…
(2) The priest.—There is no mention of the Levite here. The priest is named as a distinct personage. The words which the priest are to pronounce are, as it were, the blessing of Jehovah on the campaign. It follows that Israel could not lawfully go to war except when the blessing of Jehovah might be invoked.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v2 The priest. Not the high priest or any one…
The priest. Not the high priest or any one of the priests, but the military priest, the priest appointed to accompany the army, "the anointed for the war;" hmjlmh jyvm, as the rabbins designate him (cf. Num_21:6; 1Sa_4:4; 2Ch_13:12) His business was to exhort the people, and to encourage them by reminding them that the Lord was their Leader, and would help them in the conflict. The formula of his exhortation is given in vers. 3, 4.
Vers. 5-7. The officers; the shoterim, the keepers of the genealogical tables. (Deu_16:18) It belonged to them to appoint the men who were to serve, and to release those who had been summoned to the war, but whose domestic relations were such as to entitle them to exemption. If there was one who had built a house, but had not dedicated it, i.e. by taking possession of it and dwelling in it; or if there was one who had planted a vineyard and had not eaten of the fruit thereof; or if there was one who had betrothed a wife, but had not yet married her; such were to be allowed to return home, lest they should die in battle, and it be left to others to consummate what they had begun. According to Josephus, this exemption was for a year, according to the analogy of Deu_24:5. Dedicated; probably formal possession was taken of the house by some solemn ceremony, followed by a festive entertainment. Vineyard. The Hebrew word ( here used designates "a field or park of the nobler plants and trees cultivated in the manner of a garden or orchard" (Ges.); so that not vineyards alone, but also olive yards and plots of the more valuable fruit trees may be intended. Hath not eaten of it; literally, hath not laid it open, made it common, i.e. begun to use it, to gather its produce for common use (cf. Deu_28:30; Jer_31:5) Trees planted for food were not to be used before the fifth year of their growth. (Lev_19:23, etc.; of Deu_24:5)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v2 General Information:
General Information:
Moses continues speaking to the people of Israel.
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speak to the people
"speak to the soldiers of Israel"
Do not let your hearts faint. Do not fear or tremble. Do not be afraid of them
These four expressions all mean the same thing and strongly emphasize that they are not to be afraid. If your language does not have four ways to express this concept, you may use less than four. (See: Parallelism)
Do not let your hearts faint
Here "hearts" represents people's courage. For a heart to faint is an idiom that means "Do not be afraid." (See: Metonymy and Idiom)
Yahweh your God is the one who is going with you to fight for you against your enemies
Yahweh defeating the enemies of the people of Israel is spoken of as if Yahweh were a warrior who would fight along with the people of Israel. (See: Metaphor)
to save you
"to give you victory"
translationWords
priest
Israel
heart
save
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v4 20:4 He will fight for you: This promise affirms…
20:4 He will fight for you: This promise affirms that God initiates wars, carries them out, and brings them to successful conclusion against his enemies. The purpose of war initiated by God was to eradicate hopelessly unrepentant enemies and prevent them from contaminating his people (see 1:30).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.