Deuteronomy 20 · Verse 2

Deuteronomy 20:2

And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
Deuteronomy 20:2, King James Version

Deuteronomy 20:2 in other translations

BSBWhen you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army,
WEBIt shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,
ASVAnd it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
YLTand it hath been, in your drawing near unto the battle, that the priest hath come nigh, and spoken unto the people,
DARBYAnd it shall be, when ye approach unto the battle, that the priest shall draw near and speak unto the people,
BBEAnd when you are on the point of attacking, let the priest come forward and say to the people,
WebsterAnd it shall be when ye are come nigh to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,

What does Deuteronomy 20:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 20:2-4
2-4. 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 (Nu 10:9; 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 (De 20:3, 4) is marked by a brevity and expressiveness admirably suited to the occasion, namely, when the men were drawn up in line.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 20:1-9

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, Psa 110:3. In…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 20:1-9 →

Deuteronomy 20:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהָיָ֕הve.ha.Yahand it will beH1961
כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖םke.ka.ra.ve.Khemwhen draw near youH7126
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַמִּלְחָמָ֑הha.mil.cha.Mahthe battleH4421
וְנִגַּ֥שׁve.ni.Gashand he will come nearH5066
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.Henthe priestH3548
וְדִבֶּ֥רve.di.Berand he will speakH1696
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הָעָֽם\׃ha.'Amthe peopleH5971

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 20:2

  • 2 Chronicles 13:12

    And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

  • Numbers 31:6

    And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

  • Numbers 10:8-9

    And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

  • 1 Samuel 14:18

    And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

  • Judges 20:27-28

    And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

  • 1 Samuel 30:7-8

    And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Nu 10:8,9; 31:6; Jud 20:27,28; 1Sa 14:18; 30:7,8; 2Ch 13:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 20:1

    When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Deuteronomy 20:2

    And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

  • Deuteronomy 20:3

    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;

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Deuteronomy 20:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y será que, cuando os acercareis para combatir, llegaráse el sacerdote, y hablará al pueblo,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arrivera que, quand vous vous approcherez pour le combat, le sacrificateur s’approchera et parlera au peuple,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es soll geschehen, wenn ihr zum Streite heranrücket, so soll der Priester herzutreten und zu dem Volke reden
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Appropinquante autem jam prælio, stabit sacerdos ante aciem, et sic loquetur ad populum: