Deuteronomy chapter 20

vs 1

That's a nice thought. I will point out that it is also a specific promise to God's people. If you try this now, you will inevitably get boned.

Okay, that's not exactly true. God has made promises he will stick to forever. But this one is fairly specific. The principle that God will always be there for you is true. But he won't necessarily make your country win a war. Or even a battle.

vs 2

This, I would say, is pretty specific.

vs 3

Wouldn't it be nice if everything could be accomplished through formulaic speeches? I wonder if this really was liturgical, or if they could substitute an appropriately stirring speech with the same sentiment? There is comfort in both, I guess.

vs 4

It doesn't matter how hard you fight - God is the one who wins it for you.

vs 5

This is all one big statement regarding how unnecessary force of arms is when you have God on your side. So it weeds out those people who probably aren't all that keen on fighting anyway. Only those who are willing to put their lives on the line for God should do it. And they are, because there's no guarantees that they won't still die - only that Israel will win the battle.

vs 6

Easy way to get out of war - plant a vineyard.

vs 7

It might be that some of these also keep people at home happy too - only those people that the country is prepared to lose are sent to war.

vs 8

So not only do you weed out those people who don't really want to be there, who aren't focused and on task, but also those who might bring down morale.

vs 9

Now that you have weeded out all those who don't need to be there, you can appoint commanders, because that appointment is based on numbers I think.

vs 10

Now this is totally interesting. I'll be keen to look at this more tomorrow morning. Before I go, though, I will just say that whoever broke up these chapters of Deuteronomy into verses is great.