Ver. 1. When thou goest out to battle.] It is not unlawful, therefore, to go to war, as Lactantius and some others held; whether it be pro religione vel pro regione: only because it is easier to stir strife than to stop and stint it, — non enim in eiusdem potestate est initium belli, eiusque finis, -war is not rashly to be undertaken, lest it befall men as in the battle between the dragon and the elephant. The dragon sucketh out the blood of the elephant, and the weight of the falling elephant oppresseth the dragon, and so both perish. St Augustine would never pray for such as had willfully and voluntarily thrust themselves into unnecessary wars. For the Lord thy God is with thee.] And how many reckonest thou him for?—as Antigonus said to his discouraged soldiers. “The Lord is a man of war”; (Exodus 15:3) or, as the Chaldee there expresseth it, “a victor of wars.” (2 Chronicles 32:8) Si Deus pro nobis, &c. (Romans 8:31) Salust., in Jugurth. Plin., lib. viii. cap. 12. Possid., in Vit. Aug.
Ver. 2. That the priest shall approach.] For some priests ordinarily went along with the army; not to be Tuba rebellionis, as the Papists said of Zuinglius, nor evangelium flammeum praedicare, as they said of Beza, as a common firebrand or fomenter of discord; but to blow the holy trumpets, “that the people might be remembered before the Lord, and saved from their enemies”; (Numbers 10:8,9 2 Chronicles 13:12) and to say unto them, as in 2 Chronicles 19:11, “Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.” The valour of the Gauls was admired by the Romans. It proceeded from that instruction of the Druids, their priests, concerning the immortality of the soul, &c.
Ver. 4. For the Lord your God is he.] Quid metuit homo in sinu Dei positus, Deo armatus? Creatures of an inferior nature will be courageous in the presence of their masters: and shall not men, when they have God with them? Xerxes was wont to pitch his tent on high, and stand looking on his army when in fight, to encourage them. So God.
Ver. 5. And hath not dedicated it.] By prayers, hymns, and other holy solemnities then usual; (Nehemiah 12:27 Psalms 30:1 title) that “the house of David might be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them.” (Zechariah 12:8)
Ver. 6. That hath planted a vineyard.] This privilege might encourage men to build and plant, which is good and profitable for the commonwealth, as the apostle speaketh in a like case. (Titus 3:8)
Ver. 7. That hath betrothed a wife.] A commendable custom, even among heathens also: Placuit, despondi; nuptiis hic dictus est dies, said he in Terence.
Ver. 8. That is fearful and faint hearted.] This cowardly passion dispirits a man, expectorates his manliness, and exposeth him to the cruel mercy of an enemy. Better be temerarious than timorous! “Ye fugitives of Ephraim,” is no small brand of dishonour; (Judges 12:4) besides that melting and trying judgments follow such at heels as account one pair of heels worth two pair of hands. (Jeremiah 9:3-7) The French fled so fast before the English at the battle of Terwin, that it was called the battle of Spurs. Lest his brethren’s hearts.] Cowardice is catching, and shows that men, like stags, have great horns, but want hearts. Paul Jovius.
Ver. 9. Captains of the armies to lead the people.] As Hannibal did, of whom Livy reports, that Princeps proelium inibat, ultimus, conserto proelio, excedebat; he was first in the battle, and last out. And the same is storied of Albert, marquess of Brandenburg: In congressibus prior pugnam iniit, victor h praelio excessit ultimus. Decad. iii. lib. i. Bucholc.
Ver. 10. Then proclaim peace unto it.] Heb., Shall call unto it for peace. This hath been the practice of most nations. The Romans sent their caduceum et hastam. The herald was commanded to throw his weapons on the enemy’s ground, with this speech: Ego populusque Rom. hominibus Hermundulis bellum dico facioque: I and the people of Rome bid battle to the Hermunduli. Alexander the Great, when he besieged any city, would send his herald into it with a burning torch in his hand, to proclaim, that if any man would repair and submit himself unto him while that torch continued burning, he should be safe; otherwise they should expect nothing but fire and sword. Tamerlane, when he came against any place, first he hung out a white flag of grace, then a red, and lastly a black flag, to show that now there was no hope of mercy for them. φιλει ο Θεος προσημαινειν; God loves to give warning, saith Herodotus, a heathen. And the Turks are of opinion that God would not prosper them in their assaults, except they first make to their enemies some offer of peace, how unreasonable soever, it forceth not. So they did at the last fatal siege of Constantinople. Gel., lib. xvi. cap. 4. Turk. Hist. Ibid., 344.
Ver. 11. And open unto thee.] As Tournay in France did to our Henry VIII, with ten thousand pound sterling for the citizens’ redemption; yet was it ever till then counted so invincible, that this sentence was engraven over one of the gates, Iannes ton me a perda ton pucellage, thou hast never lost thy maidenhead. Speed’s Hist of Engl., 1001.
Ver. 13. Thou shalt smite every male thereof.] Let them pay for their pervicacy. So Caesar answered the Adviatici, that he would have spared their city if they had yielded before he had assaulted. And so the Duke of Alva much blamed Prosper Columnus, for receiving a castle upon condition after he had beaten it with the cannon. Howbeit in the Lord Protector’s expedition into Scotland in the reign of Edward VI, one castle, when they understood they were not able to hold out, and that their obstinacy had excluded all hope of pardon, they made petition that they might not presently be slain, but have some time to recommend their souls to God, and afterwards be hanged. This respite being first obtained, their pardon did the more easily ensue. Si priusquam aries murum attegisset se dedissent. -Coes. II. Gallic. Connestab VI. Life of Edward VI., by Sir John Heywood.
Ver. 17. The Hivites and the Jebusites.] The Girgashites are not reckoned among the rest, as neither are they in Joshua 9:1, haply because they accepted of conditions of peace.
Ver. 19. Thou shalt not cut them down.] Fruit trees might not be destroyed. Doth God take care for trees? It was to teach us, that if we bring forth fruit fit for God’s taste and relish, sanctifying God and Christ in our hearts, we shall not be destroyed. Oaks bring forth apples, such as they are, and acorns, but not fit for meat.