John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies , etc.] There were two sorts of war the Israelites were engaged in, one commanded and another permitted, as Maimonides distinguishes; one was by the order and appointment of God, as against the seven nations of Canaan; the other was voluntary and arbitrary, which was left to their own discretion and will, as they saw fit, when they were provoked or distressed, or were invaded by their enemies, or they saw reason to go out against them, and either act the offensive or defensive part, or both; and of each of these some things are said in this chapter: and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou ; the Israelites had no horses, and so no chariots, their armies were all infantry; but their neighbouring nations that made war with them had a large cavalry, and multitudes of chariots, which made them very formidable; thus Shishak, king of Egypt, in the times of Rehoboam, came against Jerusalem with 1200 chariots and 60,000, horsemen, and people without number; and Zerah the Ethiopian, in the times of Asa, came against him with an host of 100,000 men, and three hundred chariots, ( 2 Chronicles 12:2,3 14:9) be not afraid of them ; because of the strength of their cavalry, the terrible approaches of their chariots, and the number of their men: for the Lord thy God is with thee ; hence, as Hezekiah says, more would be with them than with their enemies, with whom was an arm of flesh, but with them the Lord their God, ( 2 Chronicles 32:7,8) and so the Targum of Jonathan, “for all of them shall be reckoned as one horse and one chariot before the Lord your God;” with whom numbers are nothing; and which adds, “for his Word shall be your help;” the eternal Logos, or Word of God; so Onkelos; and if God and his Word, his only begotten Son, are on the side of his people, they have nothing to fear from enemies, though ever so many and mighty: which brought thee out of the land of Egypt ; which is observed for the encouragement of their faith and confidence in him; for he that did that for them, what is it he cannot or will not do?
Ver. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle , etc.] When all things are preparing for it, and it seems unavoidable: that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people ; not any priest, but one appointed for this service; who is called the anointed of war , as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, and concerning whom Maimonides is more particular; he says, “they appoint a priest to speak to the people at the time of war, and they anoint him with the anointing oil, and he is called the anointed of war; twice the anointed of war speaks unto the people, once in a book at the time they go forth, before they set in battle array, he says to the people, “what man is there”, etc. and when he has caused his words to be heard, he returns; at another time, when they are set in array, he says, “fear not”, etc.” this man seems to be an emblem of Gospel ministers, who are anointed with the gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, and whose business it is to encourage the people of God to fight the Lord’s battles against sin, Satan, and the world, and not to be afraid of their spiritual enemies; directing them to take to them the whole armour of God, and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, to follow him the captain of their salvation, assuring them of victory through him who makes them more than conquerors, and that their warfare is or shortly will be accomplished.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - In the wars wherein Israel engaged according to the will of God, the might expect the Divine assistance. The Lord was to be their onl confidence. In these respects they were types of the Christian' warfare. Those unwilling to fight, must be sent away. The unwillingnes might arise from a man's outward condition. God would not be served by men forced against their will. Thy people shall be willing, Ps 110:3 In running the Christian race, and fighting the good fight of faith, we must lay aside all that would make us unwilling. If a man' unwillingness rose from weakness and fear, he had leave to return from the war. The reason here given is, lest his brethren's heart fail a well as his heart. We must take heed that we fear not with the fear of them that are afraid, Isa 8:12.
Original Hebrew כי3588 תצא3318 למלחמה4421 על5921 איבך341 וראית7200 סוס5483 ורכב7393 עם5971 רב7227 ממך4480 לא3808 תירא3372 מהם1992 כי3588 יהוה3068 אלהיך430 עמך5973 המעלך5927 מארץ776 מצרים׃4714
