Deuteronomy 20:1-9 - Framing Difficulties from the Divine Perspective

<p>     In our current section on case laws (Deut 19:1—26:19), we are considering how the nation of ancient Israel was to practice righteous living after they entered the land of Canaan (Deut 16:20), and how righteousness was measured by conformity to God’s laws (Deut 6:24-25). Having discussed unjust killing in the previous section (Deut 19:11-12), Moses now addresses God’s regulations for holy war—justified killing by divine mandate—and encourages his people to be strengthened mentally in times of conflict (Deut 20:1-4), and provides valid exemptions for military service (Deut 20:5-9). Moses will address the subject of war in later verses as well (Deut 21:10-14; 23:9-14; 24:5).</p> <p>     Moses opens this section, saying, “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you” (Deut 20:1). The pericope opens with a temporal clause, when (כִּי ki), which assumes a future reality orchestrated by God. It’s not a question of if Israel would face military conflicts, but when. This verse implies offensive action against the Canaanites, whom God had already judged as worthy of death, and His judgment was to come by the hands of His people, Israel (see Deut 7:1-2). The enemy under consideration here is the Canaanites, who were extremely corrupt and under divine judgment. Eugene Merrill writes:</p> <ul><li>"The wicked nations as a whole were viewed as under hostile and even demonic leadership and so they had to either capitulate to Yahweh’s lordship or face his wrathful judgment. The peoples of Canaan in particular were to be eradicated, for they occupied the land of Israel’s inheritance and, furthermore, constituted a never-ending threat to Israel’s purity and separateness as a kingdom of priests. The biblical witness is unambiguous that the Canaanites were beyond hope of redemption and had to be placed under the merciless ḥērem of the Lord."<a href='#_ftn1