Deuteronomy 20:5

And let the overseers say to the people, If there is any man who has made for himself a new house and has not gone into it, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another may not take his house for himself.

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

4For the Lord your God goes with you, fighting for you to give you salvation from those who are against you.

6Or if any man has made a vine-garden without taking the first-fruits of it, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another may not be the first to make use of the fruit.

Read all of Deuteronomy 20

Cross References

Numbers 31:48Then the men in authority over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came to Moses,

Deuteronomy 16:18You are to make judges and overseers in all your towns which the Lord your God gives you, for every tribe: and they are to be upright men, judging the people in righteousness.

Nehemiah 12:27And when the time came for the wall of Jerusalem to be made holy, they sent for the Levites out of all their places to come to Jerusalem, to keep the feast with joy, and with praise and melody, with brass and corded instruments of music.

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 20:2-10

Directions Concerning War; Persons Excused from War. ( b. c. 1451.) 1 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 the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your… Read the whole commentary →

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