Deuteronomy 20:5 — The officers shall also speak to the soldiers, saying, ‘What man is there who h… — AMP | maBible
Read Deuteronomy 20:5 (Amplified Bible) on maBible, the Bible online. Other reference formats: Deuteronomy 20.5, Deuteronomy 20v5, Dt. 20:5. The officers shall also speak to the soldiers, saying, ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not yet dedicated it? Let him go and return to his…
Other reference formats: Deuteronomy 20.5, Deuteronomy 20v5, Dt. 20:5.
5 The officers shall also speak to the soldiers, saying, ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not yet dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it.
Notes and references
Lit people and so throughout.
I.e. to the temple. The rabbis said that ownership of a house was required for dedication. Here, dedication seems to have established ownership when the original owner died.
The point of the admonitions in vv 5-8 is that with the Lord’s help, Israel would have no need of a large military force, and the officers could afford to dismiss anyone who was not completely prepared for battle.