A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Deuteronomy · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Verſ. 5. WHat man is there that hath built a new houſe, and hath not dedicated it.]
Or initiated it, that is, that hath not taken poſſeſſion of it, and begun to uſe it; which was wont to be done with ſolemnity of feaſting, praying▪ and ſinging of Pſalmes, as we may ſee by the title of the thirtieth Pſalme.
Let him go and return to his houſe, &c.]
That is, he may be gone if he will. In this and the following caſes this liberty was granted them, firſt, leſt they ſhould go forth to battels unwillingly and timerouſly, not having any courage to fight the Lords battles (ſee verſ. 8.) and ſecondly, becauſe even the light of reaſon teacheth men to ſhew compaſſion in this kind, and not ſuddenly to take off men from thoſe comforts which they have long laboured for, juſt when they are at laſt entring upon the fruition of them, which is threatned as a curſe, chap. 28. 30, Thou ſhalt build a houſe and ſhalt not dwell therein; and thirdly, that this priviledge might encourage men to build houſes, and plant vineyards, &c. which was good and profitable for the common-wealth.
Verſ. 6. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it, &c.]
The Hebrew word ſignifieth, and hath not made it common, that is, ſuch as himſelf and others might eat of it; and the ground of this expreſſion is, becauſe they might not in the land of Canaan eat of the fruit of any trees they had planted till they had conſecrated the fourth years fruit unto the Lord. The fruit of the firſt three years was loſt as uncircumciſed, the fourth years fruit was holy and to be given to God, and then the fruit of the fifth year was fre… for the owner and others to eat, concerning which ſee the note upon Levit. 19. 23.
Verſ. 8. What man is there that is fearfull and faint-hearted? let him go and return▪ &c.]
By this the Lord taught his peopl… how much he dislikes a timerous and cowardly ſpirit in thoſe that ſerve him, that ſo they might ſtrive to have faith in him, and in all ſtraits to be ſecure and confident in his protection.
Verſ. 9. They ſhall make captains of the armies to lead the people.]
That is, they ſhall order the battel, and appoint every captain in his place to lead the ſeverall companies of ſouldiers; for we muſt not think that captains were now firſt choſen, when they were come nigh unto the battel, as it is ſaid above verſ. 2. and that they had marched ſo farre already without leaders.
Verſ. 10. When thou comest nigh unto a citie to fight againſt it, then proclaim peace unto it.]
To wit, any citie out of the land of Canaan. Indeed the Hebrews ſay that they were to proffer peace even to the inhabitants of Canaan. B…t becauſe firſt, they were expreſſely charged utterly to deſtroy the inhabitants of Canaan, to the end they might dwell in their room & might not be enſnared by their dwelling amongſt them; and ſecondly, we do not reade that ever Joſhua tendered peace to …ny of the cities, though it be mentioned as a ſtrange thing, and a ſ…gne of Gods hardning their hearts, that never any of thoſe people did of their own accord crave peace, ſave the Gibeonites onelyonly, Joſh. 11. 19. There was not a citie …hat made peace with the children of Iſrael, ſave the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon; all other they took in battel; yet we never find that there was peace proffered them, and it ſeems that the Gibeonites did therefore ſeek it by craft, becauſe otherwiſe they ſaw it would not be granted them; and thirdly, it is expreſſely noted as a fault in the Iſraelites, Judges 1. 28. that they put the Can…anites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out; therefore this is onelyonly to be underſtood of ſuch cities as they ſhould beſiege that were not of the cities of the land of Canaan.
Verſ. 13. And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, &c.]
That is, when through Gods aſſiſtance thou haſt taken it by force and aſſault.
Verſ. 15. Thus ſhalt thou do unto all the cities which are very farre off from thee, which are not of the cities of theſe nations.]
But theſe muſt neither have peace offered them, nor muſt their women and little ones and cattel be ſpared when their cities are taken by force; for the following reaſon doth manifeſtly exclude them from both theſe favours, verſ. 18. That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their Gods, ſo ſhould you ſinne againſt the Lord your God.
Verſ. 19. Thou ſhalt not destroy the trees thereof, &c.]
That is, fruit-trees wherewith the land cannot be ſuddenly ſtored again, theſe might not be cut down, no not for their uſe in the ſiege. I do not think that it was unlawfull to cut down a fruit-tree when neceſſitie required it, onelyonly the Lord teacheth them to take heed that in their rage they did not ſo waſte the land as to ruine even poſteritie alſo.
Verſ. 20. And thou ſhalt build bulwarks againſt the citie, &c.]
That is, with ſuch trees as are not fruit-trees.