Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Deuteronomy 20:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
De 20:5	Strong Concordance	And the officers [07860] shall speak [01696] unto the people [05971], saying [0559], What man [0376] is there that hath built [01129] a new [02319] house [01004], and hath not dedicated [02596] it? let him go [03212] and return [07725] to his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] dedicate [02596] it.
	King James	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 and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
And the officers shall speak unto the people--literally, Shoterim, who are called "scribes" or "overseers" (Exo 5:6). They might be keepers of the muster-roll, or perhaps rather military heralds, whose duty it was to announce the orders of the generals (Ch2 26:11). This proclamation (Deu 20:5-8) must have been made previous to the priest's address, as great disorder and inconvenience must have been occasioned if the serried ranks were broken by the departure of those to whom the privilege was granted. Four grounds of exemption are expressly mentioned: (1) The dedication of a new house, which, as in all Oriental countries still, was an important event, and celebrated by festive and religious ceremonies (Neh 12:27); exemption for a year. (2) The planting of a vineyard. The fruit of the first three years being declared unfit for use, and the first-fruits producible on the fourth, the exemption in this case lasted at least four years. (3) The betrothal of a wife, which was always a considerable time before marriage. It was deemed a great hardship to leave a house unfinished, a new property half cultivated, and a recently contracted marriage; and the exemptions allowed in these cases were founded on the principle that a man's heart being deeply engrossed by something at a distance, he would not be very enthusiastic in the public service. (4) The ground of exemption was cowardice. From the composition of the Israelitish army, which was an irregular militia, all above twenty years being liable to serve, many totally unfit for war must have been called to the field; and it was therefore a prudential arrangement to rid the army of such unwarlike elements--persons who could render no efficient service, and the contagion of whose craven spirit might lead to panic and defeat.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

And the officers shall speak unto the people--literally, Shoterim, who are called "scribes" or "overseers" (Exo 5:6). They might be keepers of the muster-roll, or perhaps rather military heralds, whose duty it was to announce the orders of the generals (Ch2 26:11). This proclamation (Deu 20:5-8) must have been made previous to the priest's address, as great disorder and inconvenience must have been occasioned if the serried ranks were broken by the departure of those to whom the privilege was granted. Four grounds of exemption are expressly mentioned: (1) The dedication of a new house, which, as in all Oriental countries still, was an important event, and celebrated by festive and religious ceremonies (Neh 12:27); exemption for a year. (2) The planting of a vineyard. The fruit of the first three years being declared unfit for use, and the first-fruits producible on the fourth, the exemption in this case lasted at least four years. (3) The betrothal of a wife, which was always a considerable time before marriage. It was deemed a great hardship to leave a house unfinished, a new property half cultivated, and a recently contracted marriage; and the exemptions allowed in these cases were founded on the principle that a man's heart being deeply engrossed by something at a distance, he would not be very enthusiastic in the public service. (4) The ground of exemption was cowardice. From the composition of the Israelitish army, which was an irregular militia, all above twenty years being liable to serve, many totally unfit for war must have been called to the field; and it was therefore a prudential arrangement to rid the army of such unwarlike elements--persons who could render no efficient service, and the contagion of whose craven spirit might lead to panic and defeat.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The officers dedicated it - See Exo 5:6 note. Compare the marginal references. The expression is appropriate, because various ceremonies of a religious kind were customary among the Jews on taking possession of a new house. The immunity conferred in this verse lasted, like that in Deu 20:7 (compare Deu 24:5), for one year.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
What man - This and the following exceptions are to be understood only of a war allowed by God, not in a war commanded by God, not in the approaching war with the Canaanites, from which even the bridegroom was not exempted, as the Jewish writers note.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
That hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? - From the title of Psa 30:1-12, - A Psalm or Song at the Dedication of the House of David - it is evident that it was a custom in Israel to dedicate a new house to God with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving; and this was done in order to secure the Divine presence and blessing, for no pious or sensible man could imagine he could dwell safely in a house that was not under the immediate protection of God. Hence it has been a custom in the most barbarous nations to consecrate a part of a new house to the deity they worshipped. The houses of the inhabitants of Bonny, in Africa, are generally divided into three apartments: one is a kind of state room or parlour; another serves for a common room, or kitchen; and the third is dedicated to the Juju, the serpent god, which they worship; for even those savages believe that in every house their god should have his temple! At the times of dedication among the Jews, besides prayer and praise, a feast was made, to which the relatives and neighbors were invited. Something of this custom is observed in some parts of our own country in what is called warming the house; but in these cases the feasting only is kept up - the prayer and praise forgotten! so that the dedication appears to be rather more to Bacchus than to Jehovah, the author of every good and perfect gift.

Top

²⁷ And at the dedication [02598] of the wall [02346] of Jerusalem [03389] they sought [01245] the Levites [03881] out of all their places [04725], to bring [0935] them to Jerusalem [03389], to keep [06213] the dedication [02598] with gladness [08057], both with thanksgivings [08426], and with singing [07892], with cymbals [04700], psalteries [05035], and with harps [03658].

⁵ And the officers [07860] shall speak [01696] unto the people [05971], saying [0559], What man [0376] is there that hath built [01129] a new [02319] house [01004], and hath not dedicated [02596] it? let him go [03212] and return [07725] to his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] dedicate [02596] it.
⁶ And what man [0376] is he that hath planted [05193] a vineyard [03754], and hath not yet eaten [02490] of it? let him also go [03212] and return [07725] unto his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] eat [02490] of it.
⁷ And what man [0376] is there that hath betrothed [0781] a wife [0802], and hath not taken [03947] her? let him go [03212] and return [07725] unto his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] take [03947] her.
⁸ And the officers [07860] shall speak [01696] further [03254] unto the people [05971], and they shall say [0559], What man [0376] is there that is fearful [03373] and fainthearted [07390] [03824]? let him go [03212] and return [07725] unto his house [01004], lest his brethren's [0251] heart [03824] faint [04549] as well as his heart [03824].

¹¹ Moreover Uzziah [05818] had an host [02428] of fighting [04421] men [06213], that went out [03318] to war [06635] by bands [01416], according to the number [04557] of their account [06486] by the hand [03027] of Jeiel [03273] the scribe [05608] and Maaseiah [04641] the ruler [07860], under the hand [03027] of Hananiah [02608], one of the king's [04428] captains [08269].

⁶ And Pharaoh [06547] commanded [06680] the same day [03117] the taskmasters [05065] of the people [05971], and their officers [07860], saying [0559],

⁵ When a man [0376] hath taken [03947] a new [02319] wife [0802], he shall not go out [03318] to war [06635], neither shall he be charged [05674] with any business [01697]: but he shall be free [05355] at home [01004] one [0259] year [08141], and shall cheer up [08055] his wife [0802] which he hath taken [03947].

⁷ And what man [0376] is there that hath betrothed [0781] a wife [0802], and hath not taken [03947] her? let him go [03212] and return [07725] unto his house [01004], lest he die [04191] in the battle [04421], and another [0312] man [0376] take [03947] her.

⁶ And Pharaoh [06547] commanded [06680] the same day [03117] the taskmasters [05065] of the people [05971], and their officers [07860], saying [0559],

¹ A Psalm [04210] and Song [07892] at the dedication [02598] of the house [01004] of David [01732]. I will extol [07311] thee, O LORD [03068]; for thou hast lifted me up [01802], and hast not made my foes [0341] to rejoice [08055] over me.
² O LORD [03068] my God [0430], I cried [07768] unto thee, and thou hast healed [07495] me.
³ O LORD [03068], thou hast brought up [05927] my soul [05315] from the grave [07585]: thou hast kept me alive [02421], that I should not go down [03381] [03381] to the pit [0953].
⁴ Sing [02167] unto the LORD [03068], O ye saints [02623] of his, and give thanks [03034] at the remembrance [02143] of his holiness [06944].
⁵ For his anger [0639] endureth but a moment [07281]; in his favour [07522] is life [02416]: weeping [01065] may endure [03885] for a night [06153], but joy [07440] cometh in the morning [01242].
⁶ And in my prosperity [07959] I said [0559], I shall never [05769] be moved [04131].
⁷ LORD [03068], by thy favour [07522] thou hast made my mountain [02042] to stand [05975] strong [05797]: thou didst hide [05641] thy face [06440], and I was troubled [0926].
⁸ I cried [07121] to thee, O LORD [03068]; and unto the LORD [03068] I made supplication [02603].
⁹ What profit [01215] is there in my blood [01818], when I go down [03381] to the pit [07845]? Shall the dust [06083] praise [03034] thee? shall it declare [05046] thy truth [0571]?
¹⁰ Hear [08085], O LORD [03068], and have mercy [02603] upon me: LORD [03068], be thou my helper [05826].
¹¹ Thou hast turned [02015] for me my mourning [04553] into dancing [04234]: thou hast put off [06605] my sackcloth [08242], and girded [0247] me with gladness [08057];
¹² To the end that my glory [03519] may sing [02167] praise to thee, and not be silent [01826]. O LORD [03068] my God [0430], I will give thanks [03034] unto thee for ever [05769].