Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 23:9-14
Israel was now encamped, and this vast army was just entering upon action, which was likely to keep them together for a long time, and therefore it was fit to give them particular directions for the good ordering of their camp. And the charge is in one word to be clean. They must take care to keep their camp pure from moral, ceremonial, and natural pollution.
I. From moral pollution (Deu 23:9): When the host goes forth against thy enemy then look upon thyself as in a special manner engaged to keep thyself from every evil thing. 1. The soldiers themselves must take heed of sin, for sin takes off the edge of valour; guilt makes men cowards. Those that put their lives in their hands are concern…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 23:9
When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing--from the excesses incident to camp life, as well as from habits of personal neglect and impurity.
John Gill on Deuteronomy 23:9
When the host goeth forth against thine enemies,.... An army of soldiers march in order to meet the enemy and fight him:
then keep thee from every wicked thing; the Targum of Jonathan adds, by way of explanation,"from strange worship, uncovering of nakedness, and from shedding innocent blood;''that is, from idolatry, uncleanness of every sort, and murder; and all other wickednesses ought to be abstained from at all times by all persons, but especially by soldiers in such a circumstance, just going to battle; since sin committed weakens natural courage, as it loads the conscience with guilt; and since victory and success, which depend upon the blessing of God on arms, cannot be reasonably ex…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Calvin on Deuteronomy 23:9-14
Deuteronomy 23:9-14
9. When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.
9. Quum egressus fueris in exercitu contra hostes tuos, cave ab omni re mala.
10. If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:
10. Si fuerit in te quispiam non of mundus casu nocturno, egredietur extra castra, nec ingredietur in medium castrorum
11. But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.
11. quum autem aspexerit vesperum, lavabit se aqua: et quum occub…
