EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Deuteronomy 20:2
2As you prepare to fight a battle, the priest must come to speak to your soldiers.
Deuteronomy 20:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
- New International Version (NIV)When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people
- New King James Version (NKJV)So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people.
Context of Deuteronomy 20:2
1Do not be afraid when you go out to fight a war against your enemies. You may see that their armies have more horses, chariots and soldiers than you have. Do not be afraid of them! Remember that the Lord your God is with you. He rescued you from Egypt. As you prepare to fight a battle, the priest must come to speak to your soldiers. 3He must say, ‘Israelites, listen to me! Today you will fight against your enemies. Do not be afraid. Be brave! Do not shake with fear because your enemy is so strong. 4The Lord your God is going into battle with you. He will fight for you against your enemies. He will cause you to win.’
Read all of Deuteronomy 20Deuteronomy 20:2 word by word
וְהָיָ֕ה כְּקָֽרָבְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִגַּ֥שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְדִבֶּ֥ר אֶל־הָעָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 20:2
- Numbers 10:8The priests, the sons of Aaron, must use the trumpets to make a noise. This is a rule for you and for all your descendants.
- Numbers 31:6Moses sent those men out to fight. There were 1,000 men from each tribe. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, went with them. Phinehas took with him the special things from God's Holy Tent. He also took the trumpets to make sounds for the battle.
- Judges 20:27The Covenant Box was in Bethel at that time. Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was the priest who served the Lord there. The Israelites asked the Lord, ‘Should we march out to fight against our relatives, the men of Benjamin, again? Or should we leave them?’ The Lord said, ‘Attack them. Tomorrow I will put them under your power.’
- 1 Samuel 14:18Saul said to Ahijah the priest, ‘Bring the ephod here.’ At that time, Ahijah was wearing the ephod.
- 1 Samuel 30:7Then David spoke to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son. David said to him, ‘Bring the priests' ephod to me.’ So Abiathar took the ephod to David.
- 2 Chronicles 13:12Listen to me! God himself is our leader. He is here to help us. His priests are ready to make a loud noise with their trumpets to start the battle against you. Israelite people, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors. You will not win the battle.’
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The 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 Jeremiah 6:4, etc. “prepare ye” (literally consecrate) “war.” Thus, Phinehas went with the warriors to fight against Midian (Numbers 31:6; compare 1 Samuel 4:4, 1 Samuel 4:11; 2 Chronicles 13:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 20:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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