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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Deuteronomy 20:7

Ver. 7. Hath betrothed a wife— See Selden de Uxor. Heb. lib. 3: cap. 3 and Schickard, Jus. Reg. cap. 5 theor. 17. This was a law of no less policy and prudence than humanity. Josephus says: "Those who had built a house, betrothed a wife, &c. were not obliged to go to war; because the desire to preserve themselves for the enjoyment of these things, which must needs be dear to them, must have lessened their courage, and made them extremely careful of their lives." Antiq. lib. 4: cap. 8. Nor was any thing more reasonable, than that conjugal love should not be disturbed, but have time to knit in a firm and lasting affection.

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See also Deuteronomy 20:7 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Deuteronomy 20:7. _BETROTHED A WIFE, AND HATH NOT TAKEN HER?_] It was customary among the Jews to contract matrimony, espouse or betroth, and for some considerable time to leave the parties in...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DEUTERONOMY 20. LAWS TO BE OBSERVED DURING WAR. Peculiar to cf. Deuteronomy 21:10 (which some attach immediately to ch. 20) and Deuteronomy 23:9; Deuteronomy 24:5 (see remarks prefixed to...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _that hath betrothed_, etc.] Cp. Deuteronomy 24:5, exempting the newly-married from service for a year. The reason can hardly be that he was unclean for, as in the case of other married men, this obst...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Of War and Exemptions from Service in it When Israel goes to war with a foe more numerous and having horses and chariots they shall not fear; Jehovah is with them (Deuteronomy 20:1). On the eve of th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    (2) EXEMPTIONS FROM MILITARY SERVICE (Deuteronomy 20:5-9) 5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go a...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND WHAT MAN IS HE THAT HATH PLANTED A VINEYARD, AND HATH NOT YET EATEN OF IT? LET HIM ALSO GO AND RETURN UNTO HIS HOUSE, LEST HE DIE IN THE BATTLE, AND ANOTHER MAN EAT OF IT._ No JFB commentary on...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    LAWS OF WARFARE 1. Horses and chariots] The army of the Israelites was chiefly composed of infantry: see on Deuteronomy 17:16....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DEUTERONOMY: GOD’S LAW OF LOVE LOVE AND OBEY THE *LORD YOUR GOD DEUTERONOMY _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 20 V1 ‘Do not be afraid when you go to fight against your enemies. You may see horses and carts...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND THE OFFICERS. — The _shôterim_ of Deuteronomy 16:18; the civil magistrates apparently. The organisation of Israel was not military, but military leaders were to be appointed for special services,...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וּ מִֽי ־הָ אִ֞ישׁ אֲשֶׁר ־אֵרַ֤שׂ אִשָּׁה֙

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF ISRAELITE LIFE IT has often and justly been said that the life of Israel is so entirely founded on the grace and favor of God that no distinction is made between the secular an...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    It is necessary to bear in mind that these people were being led into the land not merely to find a possession for themselves as an established nation, but first as the scourge of God against a corrup...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Taken her. It was customary to leave the espoused virgin in her father's house for the space of a year, (during which time, if she proved unfaithful, she was punished like an adulteress, chap. xxii. 2...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The cases here stated of exception, to disqualify from war, seem to have been intended in great mercy, that men of timid minds might find excuse from war, and yet not incur the reproach of their breth...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It is clear that a new division of the statutes and judgments of this book begins with the later verses just read from Deuteronomy 16:1-22. What belonged to the religious life of Israel was closed wit...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 19, 20, AND 21. Chapter 19 opens with ordinances which contemplate the people in possession and enjoyment of the land; they were to observe them, that the la...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHAT MAN IS THERE THAT HATH BETROTHED A WIFE, AND HATH NOT TAKEN HER?.... Home to his house and bedded with her; has only betrothed her, but is not properly married to her, the nuptials are not co...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And what man [is there] that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. Ver. 8. _That is fearful and fai...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Hath betrothed a wife_ The time allowed in this case was a year, Deuteronomy 24:5. This was a law of great humanity, that conjugal love might not be disturbed, but have time to knit into a firm and l...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The Priests exhortation to encourage the people to battell. 5 The officers proclamation who are to be dismissed from the warre. 10 How to vse the Cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of p...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her, the formal marriage not yet having taken place? LET HIM GO AND RETURN UNTO HIS HOUSE, LEST HE DIE IN THE BATTLE, AND ANOTHER M...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE SELECTION OF SOLDIERS FOR A CAMPAIGN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    WARFARE REGULATED BY GOD (vs.1-19) God certainly never did approve the saying, "All's fair in love and war." Rather, God gave explicit instructions to Israel as to how to conduct their warfare. But...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 Christ...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Betrothing was done by a solemn and mutual promise, but not by an actual contract. See GENESIS 19:14 DEUTERONOMY 22:23....

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    "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...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Deuteronomy 20:7 man H376 betrothed H781 (H8765) woman H802 married H3947 (H8804) go H3212 (H8799) return...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PREPARATION FOR BATTLE (DEUTERONOMY 20:1). Israel was on the verge of a holy war, and instructions as to how to face up to such a fact were very necessary. They were not a warlike people, or a trained...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Laws of warfare. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: Those enterprises which we undertake by a divine warrant and prosecute by divine direction, we may expect to succeed in. Those have no...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Deuteronomy 20:5. _Hath not dedicated it._ David composed the xxxth Psalm for the dedication of his new palace. Good men warmed a new house by devotion. Deuteronomy 20:9. _The officers shall make capt...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let him go and return to his house._ THE EXEMPTIONS IN WAR Soldiers must be as free from care and cowardice as possible. Wellington declared “that the power of the greatest armies depends upon what...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON DEUTERONOMY 20:5 Three situations would exempt a man from military service. Compare Deuteronomy 28:30. God desired that his people enjoy the blessings of housing,

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON DEUTERONOMY 20:1 These laws on warfare (especially vv. Deuteronomy 20:16) may seem to be at odds with the teachings of the NT. But three things should be kept in m

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.—Reverence for life, and that which tends to preserve it, was the motive for laws given in last chapter. The same is the basis of those in this chapter. Even in time of war, forbearance...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION DIRECTIONS CONCERNING WARFARE IN GENERAL, AND FOR THE BESIEGING OF CITIES IN PARTICULAR. DEUTERONOMY 20:1 The instructi

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when they went to war, [chapter twenty] against your enemies, and you see the horses, and chariots, don't be afraid: for the LORD is with you, who brought you out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 20:1). Now...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Timothy 2:4; Deuteronomy 22:23; Deuteronomy 24:5; Deuteronomy 28:30;...

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