mh_parser/vol_split/5 - Deuteronomy/Chapter 20.xml

<div2 id="Deu.xxi" n="xxi" next="Deu.xxii" prev="Deu.xx" progress="90.55%" title="Chapter XX">
<h2 id="Deu.xxi-p0.1">D E U T E R O N O M Y</h2>
<h3 id="Deu.xxi-p0.2">CHAP. XX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Deu.xxi-p1">This chapter settles the militia, and establishes
the laws and ordinances of war, I. Relating to the soldiers. 1.
Those must be encouraged that were drawn up to battle, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.1-Deut.20.4" parsed="|Deut|20|1|20|4" passage="De 20:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. 2. Those must be dismissed
and sent back again whose private affairs called for their
attendance at home (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.5-Deut.20.7" parsed="|Deut|20|5|20|7" passage="De 20:5-7">ver.
5-7</scripRef>), or whose weakness and timidity unfitted them for
service in the field, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.8-Deut.20.9" parsed="|Deut|20|8|20|9" passage="De 20:8,9">ver. 8,
9</scripRef>. II. Relating to the enemies they made war with. 1.
The treaties they must make with the cities that were far off,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.10-Deut.20.15" parsed="|Deut|20|10|20|15" passage="De 20:10-15">ver. 10-15</scripRef>. 2. The
destruction they must make of the people into whose land they were
going, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.16-Deut.20.18" parsed="|Deut|20|16|20|18" passage="De 20:16-18">ver. 16-18</scripRef>. 3.
The care they must take, in besieging cities, not to destroy the
fruit-trees, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.19-Deut.20.20" parsed="|Deut|20|19|20|20" passage="De 20:19,20">ver. 19,
20</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Deu.xxi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20" parsed="|Deut|20|0|0|0" passage="De 20" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xxi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.1-Deut.20.9" parsed="|Deut|20|1|20|9" passage="De 20:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.20.1-Deut.20.9">
<h4 id="Deu.xxi-p1.9">Directions Concerning War; Persons Excused
from War. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xxi-p2">1 When thou goest out to battle against thine
enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, <i>and</i> a people more
than thou, be not afraid of them: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p2.1">Lord</span> thy God <i>is</i> 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 hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye
terrified because of them;   4 For the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p2.2">Lord</span> your God <i>is</i> he that goeth with you,
to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.   5 And
the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man <i>is
there</i> 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.   6 And what man <i>is he</i> that
hath planted a vineyard, and hath not <i>yet</i> eaten of it? let
him <i>also</i> go and return unto his house, lest he die in the
battle, and another man eat of it.   7 And what man <i>is
there</i> that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let
him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and
another man take her.   8 And the officers shall speak further
unto the people, and they shall say, What man <i>is there that
is</i> fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his
house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.  
9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking
unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to
lead the people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p3">Israel was at this time to be considered
rather as a camp than as a kingdom, entering upon an enemy's
country, and not yet settled in a country of their own; and,
besides the war they were now entering upon in order to their
settlement, even after their settlement they could neither protect
nor enlarge their coast without hearing the alarms of war. It was
therefore needful that they should have directions given them in
their military affairs; and in these verses they are directed in
managing, marshalling, and drawing up their own forces. And it is
observable that the discipline of war here prescribed is so far
from having any thing in it harsh or severe, as is usual in martial
law, that the intent of the whole is, on the contrary, to encourage
the soldiers, and to make their service easy to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p4">I. Those that were disposed to fight must
be encouraged and animated against their fears.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p5">1. Moses here gives a general
encouragement, which the leaders and commanders in the war must
take to themselves: "<i>Be not afraid of them,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.1" parsed="|Deut|20|1|0|0" passage="De 20:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Though the enemy have
ever so much the advantage by their numbers (being more than thou),
and by their cavalry (their armies being much made up of horses and
chariots, which thou art not allowed to multiply), yet decline not
coming to a battle with them, dread not the issue, nor doubt of
success." Two things they must encourage themselves with in their
wars, provided they kept close to their God and their religion,
otherwise they forfeited these encouragements:—(1.) The presence
of God with them: "<i>The Lord thy God is with thee,</i> and
therefore thou art not in danger, nor needest thou be afraid." See
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.41.10" parsed="|Isa|41|10|0|0" passage="Isa 41:10">Isa. xli. 10</scripRef>. (2.) The
experience they and their fathers had had of God's power and
goodness in <i>bringing them out of the land of Egypt,</i> in
defiance of Pharaoh and all his hosts, which was not only in
general a proof of the divine omnipotence, but to them in
particular a pledge of what God would do further for them. He that
saved them from those greater enemies would not suffer them to be
run down by those that were every way less considerable, and thus
to have all he had done for them undone again.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p6">2. This encouragement must be particularly
addressed to the common soldiers by a priest appointed, and, the
Jews say, anointed, for that purpose, whom they call <i>the
anointed of the war,</i> a very proper title for our anointed
Redeemer, the captain of our salvation: This priest, in God's name,
was to animate the people; and who so fit to do that as he whose
office it was as priest to pray for them? For the best
encouragements arise from the precious promises made to the prayer
of faith. This priest must, (1.) Charge them not to be afraid
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.3" parsed="|Deut|20|3|0|0" passage="De 20:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), for nothing
weakens the hands so much as that which makes the heart tremble,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.3" parsed="|Deut|20|3|0|0" passage="De 20:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. There is need
of precept upon precept to this purport, as there is here: <i>Let
not your hearts be tender</i> (so the word is), to receive all the
impressions of fear, but let a believing confidence in the power
and promise of God harden them. <i>Fear not, and do not make
haste</i> (so the word is), for he that believeth doth not make
more haste than good speed. "Do not make haste either rashly to
anticipate your advantages or basely to fly off upon every
disadvantage." (2.) He must assure them of the presence of God with
them, to own and plead their righteous cause, and not only to save
them from their enemies, but to give them victory over them,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.4" parsed="|Deut|20|4|0|0" passage="De 20:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Note, Those
have no reason to fear that have God with them. The giving of this
encouragement by a priest, one of the Lord's ministers, intimates,
[1.] That it is very fit that armies should have chaplains, not
only to pray for them, but to preach to them, both to reprove that
which would hinder their success and to raise their hopes of it.
[2.] That it is the work of Christ's ministers to encourage his
good soldiers in their spiritual conflict with the world and the
flesh, and to assure them of a conquest, yea, more than a conquest,
through Christ that loved us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p7">II. Those that were indisposed to fight
must be discharged, whether the indisposition did arise,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p8">1. From the circumstances of a man's
outward condition; as, (1.) If he had lately built or purchased a
new house, and had not taken possession of it, had not dedicated it
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.5" parsed="|Deut|20|5|0|0" passage="De 20:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), that is, made
a solemn festival for the entertainment of his friends, that came
to him to welcome him to his house; let him go home and take the
comfort of that which God had blessed him with, till, by enjoying
it for some time, he become less fond of it, and consequently less
disturbed in the war by the thoughts of it, and more willing to lie
and leave it. For this is the nature of all our worldly enjoyments,
that they please us best at first; after a while we see the vanity
of them. Some think that this dedication of their houses was a
religious act, and that they took possession of them with prayers
and praises, with a solemn devoting of themselves and all their
enjoyments to the service and honour of God. David penned the
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.30.1-Ps.30.12" parsed="|Ps|30|1|30|12" passage="Ps 30:1-12">30th Psalm</scripRef> on such an
occasion, as appears by the title. Note, He that has a house of his
own should dedicate it to God by setting up and keeping up the fear
and worship of God in it, that he may have a church in his house;
and nothing should be suffered to divert a man from this. Or, (2.)
If a man had been at a great expense to <i>plant a vineyard,</i>
and longed to <i>eat of the fruit</i> of it, which for the first
three years he was forbidden to do by the law (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.19.23-Lev.19.25" parsed="|Lev|19|23|19|25" passage="Le 19:23-25">Lev. xix. 23</scripRef>, &amp;c.), let him go home,
if he has a mind, and gratify his own humour with the fruits of it,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.6" parsed="|Deut|20|6|0|0" passage="De 20:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. See how
indulgent God is to his people in innocent things, and how far from
being a hard Master. Since we naturally covet to eat the labour of
our hands, rather than an Israelite should be crossed therein, his
service in war shall be dispensed with., Or, (3.) If a man had made
up his mind to be married, and the marriage were not solemnized, he
was at liberty to return (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.7" parsed="|Deut|20|7|0|0" passage="De 20:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>), as also to tarry at home for one year after marriage
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.24.5" parsed="|Deut|24|5|0|0" passage="De 24:5"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 5</scripRef>), for
the terrors of war would be disagreeable to a man who had just
welcomed the soft scene of domestic attachment. And God would not
be served in his wars by pressed men, that were forced into the
army against their will, but they must all be perfectly volunteers.
<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.3" parsed="|Ps|110|3|0|0" passage="Ps 110:3">Ps. cx. 3</scripRef>, <i>Thy people
shall be willing.</i> In running the Christian race, and fighting
the good fight of faith, we must <i>lay aside every weight,</i> and
all that which would clog and divert our minds and make us
unwilling. The Jewish writers agree that this liberty to return was
allowed only in those wars which they made voluntarily (as bishop
Patrick expresses it), not those which were made by the divine
command against Amalek and the Canaanites, in which every man was
bound to fight.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p9">2. If a man's indisposition to fight arose
from the weakness and timidity of his own spirit, he had leave to
return from the war, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.8" parsed="|Deut|20|8|0|0" passage="De 20:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. This proclamation Gideon made to his army, and it
detached above two-thirds of them, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.7.3" parsed="|Judg|7|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 7:3">Judg. vii. 3</scripRef>. Some make the fearfulness and
faintheartedness here supposed to arise from the terrors of an evil
conscience, which would make a man afraid to look death and danger
in the face. It was then thought that men of loose and profligate
lives would not be good soldiers, but must needs be both cowards in
an army and curses to it, the shame and trouble of the camp; and
therefore those who were conscious to themselves of notorious guilt
were shaken off. But it seems rather to be meant of a natural
fearfulness. It was partly in kindness to them that they had their
discharge (for, though shamed, they were eased); but much more in
kindness to the rest of the army, who were hereby freed from the
incumbrance of such as were useless and unserviceable, while the
danger of infection from their cowardice and flight was prevented.
This is the reason here given: <i>Lest his brethren's heart fail as
well as his heart.</i> Fear is catching, and in an army is of most
pernicious consequence. We must take heed that we <i>fear not the
fear of those that are afraid,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.12" parsed="|Isa|8|12|0|0" passage="Isa 8:12">Isa. viii. 12</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p10">III. It is here ordered that, when all the
cowards were dismissed, then captains should be nominated
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.9" parsed="|Deut|20|9|0|0" passage="De 20:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), for it was in
a special manner necessary that the leaders and commanders should
be men of courage. That reform therefore must be made when the army
was first mustered and marshalled. The soldiers of Christ have need
of courage, that they may quit themselves like men, and endure
hardness like good soldiers, especially the officers of his
army.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.xxi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20" parsed="|Deut|20|0|0|0" passage="De 20" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xxi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.10-Deut.20.20" parsed="|Deut|20|10|20|20" passage="De 20:10-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.20.10-Deut.20.20">
<h4 id="Deu.xxi-p10.4">Proclamations of War; Directions Concerning
War. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p10.5">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xxi-p11">10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight
against it, then proclaim peace unto it.   11 And it shall be,
if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall
be, <i>that</i> all the people <i>that is</i> found therein shall
be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.   12 And
if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee,
then thou shalt besiege it:   13 And when the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p11.1">Lord</span> thy God hath delivered it into thine hands,
thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:
  14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and
all that is in the city, <i>even</i> all the spoil thereof, shalt
thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine
enemies, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p11.2">Lord</span> thy God hath
given thee.   15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities
<i>which are</i> very far off from thee, which <i>are</i> not of
the cities of these nations.   16 But of the cities of these
people, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p11.3">Lord</span> thy God doth
give thee <i>for</i> an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing
that breatheth:   17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them;
<i>namely,</i> the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and
the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p11.4">Lord</span> thy God hath commanded thee:   18 That
they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they
have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxi-p11.5">Lord</span> your God.   19 When thou shalt
besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it,
thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against
them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down
(for the tree of the field <i>is</i> man's <i>life</i>) to employ
<i>them</i> in the siege:   20 Only the trees which thou
knowest that they <i>be</i> not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy
and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city
that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p12">They are here directed what method to take
in dealing with the cities (these only are mentioned, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.10" parsed="|Deut|20|10|0|0" passage="De 20:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>, but doubtless the
armies in the field, and the nations they had occasion to deal
with, are likewise intended) upon which they made war. They must
not make a descent upon any of their neighbours till they had first
given them fair notice, by a public manifesto, or remonstrance,
stating the ground of their quarrel with them. In dealing with the
worst of enemies, the laws of justice and honour must be observed;
and, as the sword must never be taken in hand without cause, so not
without cause shown. War is an appeal, in which the merits of the
cause must be set forth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p13">I. Even to the proclamation of war must be
subjoined a tender of peace, if they would accept of it upon
reasonable terms. That is (say the Jewish writers), "upon condition
that they renounce idolatry, worship the God of Israel, as
proselytes of the gate that were not circumcised, pay to their new
masters a yearly tribute, and submit to their government:" on these
terms the process of war should be stayed, and their conquerors,
upon this submission, were to be their protectors, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.10-Deut.20.11" parsed="|Deut|20|10|20|11" passage="De 20:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>. Some think that
even the seven nations of Canaan were to have this offer of peace
made to them; and the offer was no jest or mockery, though <i>it
was of the Lord to harden their hearts</i> that they should not
accept it, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.11.20" parsed="|Josh|11|20|0|0" passage="Jos 11:20">Josh. xi. 20</scripRef>.
Others think that they are excluded (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.16" parsed="|Deut|20|16|0|0" passage="De 20:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>) not only from the benefit of
that law (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.13" parsed="|Deut|20|13|0|0" passage="De 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>)
which confines military execution to the males only, but from the
benefit of this also, which allows not to make war till peace was
refused. And I see not how they could proclaim peace to those who
by the law were to be utterly rooted out, and to whom they were to
show no mercy, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.7.2" parsed="|Deut|7|2|0|0" passage="De 7:2"><i>ch.</i> vii.
2</scripRef>. But for any other nation which they made war upon,
for the enlarging of their coast, the avenging of any wrong done,
or the recovery of any right denied, they must first proclaim peace
to them. Let this show, 1. God's grace in dealing with sinners:
though he might most justly and easily destroy them, yet, having no
pleasure in their ruin, he proclaims peace, and beseeches them to
be reconciled; so that those who lie most obnoxious to his justice,
and ready to fall as sacrifices to it, if they make him an answer
of peace, and open to him, upon condition that they will be
tributaries and servants to him, shall not only be saved from ruin,
but incorporated with his Israel, as fellow-citizens with the
saints. 2. Let it show us our duty in dealing with our brethren: if
any quarrel happen, let us not only be ready to hearken to the
proposals of peace, but forward to make such proposals. We should
never make use of the law till we have first tried to accommodate
matters in variance amicably, and without expense and vexation.
<i>We</i> must be for peace, whoever are for war.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p14">II. If the offers of peace were not
accepted, then they must proceed to push on the war. And let those
to whom God offers peace know that if they reject the offer, and
take not the benefit of it within the time limited, judgment will
rejoice against mercy in the execution as much as now mercy
rejoices against judgment in the reprieve. In this case, 1. There
is a promise implied that they should be victorious. It is taken
for granted that <i>the Lord their God would deliver it into their
hands,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.13" parsed="|Deut|20|13|0|0" passage="De 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>.
Note, Those enterprises which we undertake by a divine warrant, and
prosecute by divine direction, we may expect to succeed in. If we
take God's method, we shall have his blessing. 2. They are ordered,
in honour to the public justice, to put all the soldiers to the
sword, for them I understand by <i>every male</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.13" parsed="|Deut|20|13|0|0" passage="De 20:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), all that bore arms (as
all then did that were able); but the spoil they are allowed to
take to themselves (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.14" parsed="|Deut|20|14|0|0" passage="De 20:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>), in which were reckoned the women and children.
Note, A justifiable property is acquired in that which is won in
lawful war. God himself owns the title: <i>The Lord thy God gives
it thee;</i> and therefore he must be owned in it, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.3" parsed="|Ps|44|3|0|0" passage="Ps 44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p15">III. The nations of Canaan are excepted
from the merciful provisions made by this law. Remnants might be
left of the cities that were very far off (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.15" parsed="|Deut|20|15|0|0" passage="De 20:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), because by them they were not
in so much danger of being infected with idolatry, nor was their
country so directly and immediately intended in the promise; but of
the cities which were given to Israel for an inheritance no
remnants must be left of their inhabitants (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.16" parsed="|Deut|20|16|0|0" passage="De 20:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), for it put a slight upon the
promise to admit Canaanites to share with them in the peculiar land
of promise; and for another reason they must be utterly destroyed
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.17" parsed="|Deut|20|17|0|0" passage="De 20:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), because,
since it could not be expected that they should be cured of their
idolatry, if they were left with that plague-sore upon them they
would be in danger of infecting God's Israel, who were too apt to
take the infection: <i>They will teach you to do after their
abominations</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.18" parsed="|Deut|20|18|0|0" passage="De 20:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>), to introduce their customs into the worship of the
God of Israel, and by degrees to forsake him and to worship false
gods; for those that dare violate the second commandment will not
long keep to the first. Strange worships open the door to strange
deities.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxi-p16">IV. Care is here taken that in the
besieging of cities there should not be any destruction made of
fruit-trees, <scripRef id="Deu.xxi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.19-Deut.20.20" parsed="|Deut|20|19|20|20" passage="De 20:19-20"><i>v.</i>
19-20</scripRef>. In those times, when besiegers forced their way,
not as now with bombs and cannon-ball, but with battering rams,
they had occasion for much timber in carrying on their sieges: now
because, in the heat of war, men are not apt to consider, as they
ought, the public good, it is expressly provided that fruit-trees
should not be used as timber-trees. That reason, <i>for the tree of
the field is man's</i> (the word <i>life</i> we supply), all the
ancient versions, the Septuagint, Targums, &amp;c., read, <i>For is
the tree of the field a man?</i> Or <i>the tree of the field is not
a man, that it should come against thee in the siege,</i> or
<i>retire from thee into the bulwark.</i> "Do not brutishly vent
thy rage against the trees that can do thee no harm." But our
translation seems most agreeable to the intent of the law, and it
teaches us, 1. That God is a better friend to man than man is to
himself; and God's law, which we are apt to complain of as a heavy
yoke, consults our interest and comfort, while our own appetites
and passions, of which we are so indulgent, are really enemies to
our welfare. The intent of many of the divine precepts is to
restrain us from destroying that which is our life and food. 2.
That armies and their commanders are not allowed to make what
desolation they please in the countries that are the seat of war.
Military rage must always be checked and ruled with reason. War,
though carried on with ever so much caution, is destructive enough,
and should not be made more so than is absolutely necessary.
Generous spirits will show themselves tender, not only of men's
lives, but of their livelihoods; for, though <i>the life is more
than meat,</i> yet it will soon be nothing without meat. 3. The
Jews understand this as a prohibition of all wilful waste upon any
account whatsoever. No fruit-tree is to be destroyed unless it be
barren, and cumber the ground. "Nay," they maintain, "whoso
wilfully breaks vessels, tears clothes, stops wells, pulls down
buildings, or destroys meat, transgresses this law: <i>Thou shalt
not destroy.</i>" Christ took care that the broken meat should be
gathered up, that nothing might be lost. Every creature of God is
good, and, as nothing is to be refused, so nothing is to be abused.
We may live to want what we carelessly waste.</p>
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