When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword. Sermons
I. WAR'S HORRORS MITIGATED. 1. Peace was invariably to be offered before attack to a foreign city (vers. 10, 11). It is presumed that the war was just, and undertaken with the sanction of Jehovah. If peace was accepted, no one was to be injured, but only tribute imposed. The peacemaking spirit is pleasing to God (Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18). 2. In the case of a city taken by storm, no women, children, or cattle were to be destroyed (ver. 14). The amount of self-restraint which this implies can only be appreciated after reading the accounts of warfare as anciently conducted. But we may get some light upon it by studying the horrors of the sack of a city, even in modern times, and under European, or even British, generalship (see histories of the Peninsular wars). 3. In the sparing of trees useful for food (ver. 19). War conducted on these principles, however severe in certain of its aspects, cannot be described as barbarous. II. WAR'S SEVERITIES EXEMPLIFIED. 1. The resisting city, if foreign, was to be punished by the slaughter of its adult males (ver. 13). This, which sounds so harsh, was perhaps a necessity from the circumstances of the nation. It certainly typifies the "utter destruction" which shall fall on all resisting God's will, and placing themselves in an attitude of hostility to his kingdom on the earth. 2. The Canaanites were to be completely exterminated (vers. 16-18). This case differs from the other in being the execution of a judicial sentence, as well as an indispensable means to their own preservation against corruption (ver. 18). A general type of the fate which shall overtake the ungodly. - J.O.
When thou goest out to battle. I. UNDERTAKEN TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF GOD. "In the name of our God we will set up our banners."II. SANCTIONED BY THE WILL OF GOD. 1. God's will is ascertained by His presence. 2. God's will is declared by His servants. III. CONDUCTED BY THE PRECEPTS OF GOD. (J. Wolfendale.) 1. Great in number. 2. Terrible in equipment. II. IN THIS WARFARE RIGHT MEN ARE WANTED. 1. Good leaders. 2. Good soldiers. (1) (2) (3) III. IN THIS WARFARE WE SHOULD NOT BE DISHEARTENED. 1. God's providence encourages us. "Brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." There is constant reference to this deliverance most striking and instructive. History unfolds Divine providence; abounds with proofs of omnipotence, and pledges of help. Examples are cited to animate to fortitude and virtue. 2. God's presence is with us. "The Lord thy God is with thee." Not merely as commander, but "goeth with you" into the greatest danger. Not as a spectator, like Xerxes, who viewed the conflict from on high, but "to fight for you" with the determination to save you. The Lord thy God, He it is, not a common general, "that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (J. Wolfendale.) Be not afraid Israel had seen little of war, only a few brushes in their journey with inferior adversaries. Things would soon become more serious. Hence alarm and need of admonition and encouragement. All Christians are soldiers, and wage a good warfare. It is a necessary and trying warfare — continues through every season and in every condition. The forces of their enemies may be superior in number, vigilance, wisdom, and might. Hence danger of alarm and need of fortitude in the warrior. None have better grounds for courage than we; not in ourselves, for then we must fail.I. THE DIVINE PRESENCE: "For the Lord thy God is with thee." Antigonus said to his troops, dismayed at the numbers of the foe," How many do you reckon me for? But God is all-wise and almighty. "They that be with us are more than they that he with them." "Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world." II. HIS AGENCY: "Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." To a Jew, this was not only a proof, but a pledge; not only showed what He could do, but was a voucher of what He would do. He is always the same, and never suffers what He has done to be undone. Strange would it have been, after opening a passage through the sea, to have drowned them in Jordan. What would have been thought of His great name, after placing Himself at their head to lead them to Canaan, if He had suffered them to be overcome by the way? He, who begins the work, is not only able to finish, but begins it for the very purpose. "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (W. Jay.) People Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Jebusites, Moses, PerizzitesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Death, Delivered, Delivereth, Delivers, Edge, Gives, Hands, Hast, Male, Males, Mercy, Mouth, Smite, Smitten, Strike, Sword, ThereofOutline 1. The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to battle5. The officers' proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war 10. How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace 16. What cities must be devoted 19. Trees must not be destroyed in the siege Dictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 20:1-20Library 'Fit, Though Few''Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Sharon. Caphar Lodim. The Village of those of Lydda. Appeal to the Christian Women of the South Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 20:13 NIVDeuteronomy 20:13 NLT Deuteronomy 20:13 ESV Deuteronomy 20:13 NASB Deuteronomy 20:13 KJV Deuteronomy 20:13 Bible Apps Deuteronomy 20:13 Parallel Deuteronomy 20:13 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 20:13 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 20:13 French Bible Deuteronomy 20:13 German Bible Deuteronomy 20:13 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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